RALEIGH COUNTY, WV (WOAY)—Beckley Community United Methodist Church is hosting a warming center with United Way for the fourth year.
It’s well needed and appreciated as winter approaches with frigid temperatures to match. UMC is committed to this community-wide effort.
“We host the warming center here in the Fellowship Hall. It’s set up for a dinner but this will all be gone,” said Minister Laura Fygetakes. “We’ll put up a divider, and there’ll be one side for the men to sleep on and another for the women. We have about eight to 10 cots on each side so we can serve up to 20 people sleeping overnight if they want to.”
Tables will also be set up so people can sit with a cup of coffee and warm up.
“We usually provide soup or something warm for when they come in and give them something like a sausage biscuit sandwich in the morning before they go out,” Fygetakes said.”It usually runs from eight in the evening until seven the next morning.”
The warming center is open from December 1 through March 31 as the weather dictates.
“When it gets to be 15 degrees or less, including the wind chill then we open because that’s bitter cold to be out and some people have to be out,” said the minister. “That’s what we’re here for.”
There’s power in giving back. Volunteers may attend the Nov. 21, 7pm training session (you do not have to register) at United Methodist Fellowship Hall.
“It’s a feeling that you’re doing something for people they can’t get anywhere else. Really feels like a call from God — that this is the mission for our community to reach out to people who need it.”
IF YOU WANT TO GO
Beckley Community UMC Fellowship Hall
217 S. Heber Street, Beckley
