Church makes space for warming center
Article By Cody Bozarth & Photograph By Robert Leistra
Jacksonville Journal-Courier
A Jacksonville service group has fulfilled its first goal in establishing a shelter for the homeless to escape the elements.
New Directions of Jacksonville has partnered with Grace United Methodist Church to set up a warming center that may develop into a cooling center in the summer.
Two unused rooms at the church will be used to house men and women separately and a third room will be used as a common area.
New Directions Executive Director Vanessa Tyus said anyone wanting to stay at the facility must get a referral from the Jacksonville Police Department after a background check for existing warrants.
The shelter will open Feb. 1 from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., but Tyus said the immediate concern is finding cots and volunteers.
The church will host a one-hour training session at 1 p.m. Saturday to discuss the shelter’s policies and procedures will be held for anyone willing to volunteer for the shelter. Tyus said at least two people will be needed every night.
Barring any problems, the shelter may stay open for the foreseeable future.
“As long as we meet the expectation of what we have designed to do,” Tyus said. “If everyone on both sides of the partnership are happy.”
New Directions had been looking for a facility since late summer.
Grace United pastor Mike Fender said during this time he was looking for something meaningful the church could be a part of. The church had two Sunday school rooms and a choir room that it didn’t need and had bathroom and shower facilities available as well.
“When you’ve been given such a gift of this building and you don’t use it, it’s a crime,” Fender said.
Alan Bradish, New Directions treasurer, suggested establishing a warming center and Fender took the idea to the church’s administrative board.
“It was unanimous,” Fender said. “It wasn’t ‘lets form a committee to think about it.’ They said, ‘let’s form a committee to see what they need and let’s do it.’”
Karl Luth chairs the committee that will be working with the warming center and said the immediate concern is getting everything in order.
“We’re going to see what they need, so we’ll be sitting down to see what we can do to help,” Luth said.
Tyus has already provided the church with a wish list with dozens of items ranging from couches and a refrigerator to paint and sign to hang outside. Fender said anyone willing to make donations can contact the church.
Fender added that those wanting to donate labor are also welcome because there may be some utility work to be done as the shelter begins to take shape in the coming months.
“It’s a bigger picture. If someone is willing to spend the night, that’s serving in mission. Bringing in breakfast, coming in to help set up breakfast, that’s all serving in mission,” Fender said. “There’s something to be said for hands-on mission work right here at home.”
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