A Warming Center Thank You

Immanuel has just crossed the finish line! Along with our community, we completed our first winter season as a host site of the Warren County Emergency Warming Response (EWR). EWR is a warming shelter system that includes the greater St Charles/Lincoln/Warren counties. Immanuel viewed her role as a supplementary warming center to complement Anchor House/Liberty Belle of Warren County, which is a 24hr shelter to our West, and St Charles EWR to our East. 

"Homeless Jesus" statue, created by Canadian artist Timothy P. Schmalz

EWR’s first night of activation was Sunday, November 30th, and the final night was Monday, March 16th. Temperatures for activation occurred when overnight lows forecast at 20F or lower. 

The greater EWR system activated 28 nights this year, which is higher than the average number of activations. 

Here are Immanuel’s site participation numbers: 

• Immanuel was open onsite 24 nights.

• Immanuel deferred to offsite motel activation on 4 nights due to dangerous winter weather travel.

• One night Immanuel closed early at 11pm due to no guests.

• One night Immanuel was unable to open due to volunteer shortage and short notice, and guests were directed to Anchor House/Liberty Belle or Wentzville Christian Church.

• One night Immanuel opened when EWR did not activate because our specific community temps were in the activation range of 20F and lower, while the greater EWR areas were above 20F.

A typical guest experience at Immanuel begins when they signed in upon arrival, chose their cot/blanket/toiletries, and enjoyed a hot meal and conversation before bedtime. Snacks were available throughout the night. Morning wake-up was 6am with a hot breakfast of eggs, waffles/pancakes, fruit cups, and coffee. Snacks and packable meals were offered for guests to take with them for the day.

Fun Facts:

• In most of December’s activations, Immanuel hosted guests from St Charles County as EWR had no host sites available for activation during that time frame.

• Immanuel reached a capacity of 20 guests during the final week of December. Two guests were Warren County and 18 were St Charles County.

• Warren County guest count averaged 2-3 per activation throughout the season.

• Most Warren County guests live in their cars and have a job. One lives in an encampment with no car and does odd jobs.

• Immanuel housed gentle pets alongside guests this year. It was rewarding!

Community volunteers are a HUGE factor in the success of the warming center. 

The greater EWR system took notice of our healthy volunteer list and asked what we were doing and where did these people come from? All we can say is our greater community loves her neighbors. Many hands at work made the work of overnight sheltering lighter. 

A GIGANTIC THANK YOU to everyone who volunteered in a myriad of ways: overnight volunteer, cooked a meal, donated food, made the coffee, took on laundry duty, donated laundry money, donated warm clothes/blankets/linens/sleeping bags/etc, lended out camping cots and pet cages, and assisted guests with further support as needed. 

Here’s our on-site volunteer people numbers:

• 19 overnight volunteers 

• 6 laundry volunteers

• 5 food/meal doners

Finally, Immanuel relied on and networked to care for our fragile neighbors 24/7, not just overnight. Wintertime is cold in the daytime too. These folks represented a wide variety of entities who were volunteer partners in kindness this season.

• Community-wide families, friends, & neighbors

• Immanuel UCC

• Wright City Community Food Pantry

• Anchor House/Liberty Belle

• Warren Co Health Department

• Agape

• EWR StCharles/Lincoln/Warren leaders

• Wright City Scenic Regional Library

• Wright City McDonalds and Subway

• Wright City area gas stations

• Femme Osage UCC

• Harmonie Church

• FCFC Servant’s Heart

• City of Wright City leaders

• WCFD, WCPD, EMS, 911

• Warren Co Emergency Management

Final Thoughts:

It is important in communities that we intentionally create a space for everyone. When communities ignore the need to create space for the least of these, crime rates will climb out of desperation to meet needs. Loving our neighbor is important work and an opportunity to encounter Jesus. Many volunteers have been deeply changed by their experience at the warming center. They now know names and unhoused individuals have become friends. Understanding what causes homelessness is complex. When we engage with unhoused neighbors our compassion grows. 

Here’s a parable Jesus told about the sheep and the goats:

Matthew 25:37-40, “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’”

Again, thank you so very much for partnering to do this important work of loving all of our neighbors. 

We are making a difference in this weary world. 

#warmingcenter