Warming center seeks volunteers for overnight shifts

Volunteers are still needed to cover evening shifts for the Fulton County Warming Center, now located at Faith Outreach Center at 1125 E. Ninth St. in Rochester for those needing a warm place to sleep during the month of February.

The Fulton County Warming Center has been moved to Faith Outreach Center at 1125 E. Ninth St. in Rochester for the month of February, providing a warm place to sleep for the homeless, stranded motorists, or residents struggling with heating issues during the winter months.

The warming shelter first opened last month on Jan. 7 at the Heartland Church, 321 E. Eighth St., Rochester, holding a purpose of preventing death and injury to those struggling in the community from exposure to the elements. The shelter's initial opening sparked fear in many community members. Although at the end of January, it had an average of three individuals staying each night, it has been estimated around 100 people in Fulton County are currently homeless. 

Rochester City Councilwoman Amy Roe, also president of Fulton County HOPE, says the process of making the warming center is something that has been in the works since 2018, and has still been a learning process since opening in January. To Roe, those three people having a safe place to stay is a priority. Roe hopes others in the area in need of a warm place to sleep at night will eventually join the bandwagon and drop the fears about being judged of persecuted at the warming shelter. 

"It's been interesting to learn and understand along the way as this idea grows. I think the hardest part is fear from those vulnerable community members in need to reach out." Roe said, further stating rumors swirling locally about the warming shelter being a trap to catch fugitives and addicts has hindered a lot of their progress on bringing in homeless individuals from the community. Roe feels the warming shelter is a step in the right direction for a potential long-term homeless shelter being established in Rochester in the future, but she feels the first step is to get the homeless from Fulton County to not fear help that's being provided from the centers being open at these local churches. 

"We need to do as we preach and be our brothers keeper," Roe said. She hopes as time goes on more local churches will jumped on board and help with the warming center in the future. 

Roe reiterated to the public that the warming center does not put those in need at risk for getting arrested and that anyone in need is welcome to the facility at check-in each evening from 6-10 p.m. Roe said a local restaurant, who requested to remain anonymous, has donated dinner for those at the warming center each evening and that breakfast is also provided for attendees leaving at the 7 a.m. check-out time. 

As the center remains open each evening for those in need, current volunteers are being worked to the bone and are asking the public wishing to lend a hand to reach out. Background checks are required for those wanting to volunteer evening shifts from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. Those interested in volunteering can contact Fulton County Warming Center Coordinator Whitney Yates at 574-727-0078.