Helping the homeless, others in need during deep freeze

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The CSRA is in for a cold night, with lows between 20 and 24 degrees – and wind chills will be between zero and 18 degrees early Thursday.

And winter won’t give us much of a break until next week.

Community groups are asking for donations of warm clothing that can go to anyone in need.

And to help the homeless survive the potentially life-threatening weather, several warming shelters are open, and Augusta Transit is offering free rides there.

Among them is the Salvation Army’s Center of Hope, 1384 Greene St.

“It’s gonna get real cold,” said Maj. Jonathan Raymer of the Salvation Army.

“When that happens, of course, we think of our neighbors who are living out on the streets,” he said.

“At the Center of Hope, we make sure that anyone that comes up that needs a place can come in, at least for that night when it’s cold,” he said.

Raymer says the center can hold up to 150 guests. And while it wasn’t at full capacity Tuesday, there’s a plan if the winter weather brings in more guests.

“If it does get filled up because of the cold weather, what we will then do is turn our dining room after we’re done with meals, we’ll turn the dining room over and put cots down and, and have people staying in there, as well,” he said.

For the duration of the cold snap, the Salvation Army will no longer require clients to be out of the shelter by 8 a.m. Doors will stay open throughout the day to share the heat.

The Salvation Army isn’t the only group trying to help out.

Com for Hope is asking for donations of warm clothing and hand warmers that can be given to people in need.

Drop-off locations include:

• Colonial Cleaners, 706 Old Edgefield Road North in North Augusta.
• Fishman Flooring, 4292 Belair Frontage Road in Augusta,
• Lapels, 4295 Washington Road n Evans.
• Superior Distribution: 702 S. Old Belair Road in Grovetown.

Augusta Transit will provide free transportation to certain warming shelters until further notice.

The pickup point is the Broad Street transfer facility, 1546 Broad St., and drop-off points are:

• Augusta Rescue Mission, 526 Walker St. (Route 3 Gold Line/East Augusta).
• Garden City Rescue Mission, 828 Fenwick St. (Route 6 Brown Line/Gordon Highway).
• Salvation Army Center of Hope, 1384 Greene St. (Route 3 Gold Line/East Augusta).

Service will start at the Broad Street transfer facility at 3 p.m. and operate continuously until 7:30 p.m.

Augusta Transit buses accommodate persons with a disability who require special accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Meanwhile, anyone in need of daytime warming centers can visit any of the locations listed below. Augusta Transit will not be providing free transportation to the daytime shelters, but individuals can use normal bus routes during regular operating hours to get to these locations.

• Bernie Ward Community Center, 1941 Lumpkin Road, Monday-Thursday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday noon to 4 p.m.
• Blythe Community Center, 3129 Highway 88, Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Carrie J. Mays Community Center, 1014 11th Avenue, Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• May Park Community Center, 622 4th Street, Monday-Thursday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday noon to 4 p.m.
• McBean Community Center, 1155 Hephzibah-McBean Road, Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• McDuffie Wood Community Center, 3134 Old McDuffie Road, Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday noon to 4 p.m.
• Robert Howard Community Center, 103 Diamond Lakes Way, Monday-Thursday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday noon to 4 p.m.
• Sand Hills Community Center, 2540 Wheeler Road, Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Warren Road Community Center, 300 Warren Road, Monday-Thursday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday noon to 4 p.m.

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