For Immediate
ReleaseFor Further Information
Contact:
Mayor Holly Brinda at (440) 371-2285ReleaseFor Further Information
Or: Bruce Shade at: (440) 387-9684
January 24, 2014
SPONSOR WARMING CENTER AND OVERNIGHT
SHELTER BEGINNING SUNDAY EVENING
Due to the anticipated extremely cold temperatures,
starting at 7:00pm on Sunday January 26, 2014, the City of Elyria and its
community partners will be operating a warming center and overnight shelter at
St. Mary Parish, 320 Middle Avenue – Parish Hall (off St. Mary’s Way – between
3rd and 4th street). The shelter will continue operating
as long as needed which is projected to be at least 8:00 am Wednesday January
29, 2014.
This community collaboration, staffed by the City of
Elyria and other participating organizations and volunteers, will offer safe,
secure, comfortable shelter and food and beverages to the area’s homeless,
those living in conditions with low or no heat, or individuals and families
that may have broken furnaces or water pipes.
The shelter will be under the supervision of the Mayor’s Office with
support from the Elyria Police Department.
Support services will also be provided by the Elyria Public Health
Department and the Elyria Fire Department.
Police officers, fire department personnel and public
health professionals will be making people aware of the shelter through direct
interaction and outreach activities, checking believed locations of homeless
persons, distribution of flyers in public gathering places and businesses, and
through the local media throughout the 4-day period. The faith-based community, led by Reverend
Charles Diedrick of St. Mary Parish, will be sharing information, providing
volunteers and taking up a collection to help fund the shelter effort.
The American Red Cross is providing cots, blankets and
sheets; Lorain County Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency is
assisting in communications and coordination of the warming center and
overnight shelter; and University Hospitals Elyria Medical Center is providing
blankets, food as needed and volunteer personnel. Area restaurants will be asked to donate
food. During the last extreme cold spell
Olive Garden, Panera Bread, Burger King, Dunkin Donuts, McDonalds, Sam’s Club,
Marcos Pizza and Wolfys Bistro and Pub provided food and beverage to the
shelter.
Individuals who come to the shelter may bring their
domestic animals only if they are caged.
Persons can call the city’s hot line phone number 440-323-3302 (Elyria
Police Dispatch) or 211 for additional information. “On behalf of the City and those we serve, I
would like to extend our most sincere appreciation to everyone who is working
so very hard to keep all of our residents safe and warm during this very
difficult winter,” said Mayor Holly Brinda.
Sincerely,
Mayor
