With temperatures dipping below freezing at night and The Chattanooga Community Kitchen at capacity, The Salvation Army will open its doors for overnight emergency shelter for the homeless tonight, February 9 and tomorrow night, February 10, at 6:00 pm. The ReCreate Café, The Salvation Army's Day Center located at 800 McCallie Avenue, is busy preparing to serve those in need throughout the frigid nights and during its normal hours during the day.
The Salvation Army and Relevant Hope Ministries, which runs the cold weather shelter at The Chattanooga Community Kitchen, have been communicating today relaying the increase demand of services due to the colder temperatures. The Salvation Army has agreed to take an additional 50 guests to help offset their high guest count.
"Our goal is to partner with other agencies to keep people safe and warm when these low temperatures setting in," said Major Algerome Newsome, Chattanooga Salvation Army Area Commander. "We need coffee, creamer and travel-size toiletry items for the shelter.""
Volunteers are needed to help serve in the shelter. For volunteer information, email Jill.Woodruff@uss.salvationarmy.org, or call 423-505-1052 .
Donations of coffee, toiletries, new heaters or money are being accepted at The Salvation Army, 822 McCallie Ave , Chattanooga, TN 37403. Monetary donations can also be made online at www.csarmy.org , or by calling 1-800-Sal-Army.
"Also, our supply of new heaters for low-income home owners is drastically low," states Major Newsome. "Also monetary donations are welcomed for those experiencing high utility bills that come from having to keep temperatures warmer in their homes."
For additional information, please call The Salvation Army at 423-756-1023.
Salvation Army opens overnight shelter due to cold weather and calls for volunteers
February 9, 2016 at 4:35 p.m. | Updated February 9, 2016 at 4:41 p.m.