Warming center needs donations, volunteers

PROVO, Utah — Warming centers in northern Utah are preparing for an uptick in visitors tonight as we anticipate snow. The Utah County warming center geared up for more people to spend the night in their warehouse on State Street in Provo. It's been open for a few months, but the individuals running it are hopeful more people take advantage of this warm space as temperatures dip. "If someone wants to go from this where we can triage them, even if it's a substance abuse issue, we have resources there," said Frederick Sheehan, who works with Community Action Services to help run the center. "We can send them to treatment. We have housing options. We have therapy, case management." This is third season the Utah County warming center is up and running. A maximum of 113 people filled the warehouse room last year. So far this winter, Sheehan said they see about 60 per night. Last year they averaged 77. They've done street outreach to try and bring people in ahead of the winter storm. "A lot of our cities here in the county have no camping ordinances, so they always have one eye open," Community Action Services and Food Bank housing director Kena Mathews said. "They finally find a spot. They can lay down. They can try to sleep, but it's cold. They might not have the winter gear that they need." The warming center is open nightly from 8 p.m. - 8 a.m. through March 1, 2026. The state required more security this year, so bags go through screening. There's also a body scanner similar to what's at the airport but it's not being used yet. "We were concerned about it in the beginning that people wouldn't come," Mathews said. "And there's definitely people that aren't coming because of the security. But all in all, I think it's been a really good asset to us." She said they really need new or gently used blankets, packaged snacks and small items like hats, gloves, socks and hand and foot warmers. The center is short on volunteers. "Especially as we get more people, it's better to have all of our shifts full of volunteers to help our staff," Mathews said. She said volunteering involves online training. "We have three shifts: the first shift, they help set up, get people intake, that kind of thing, get people fed with their snacks," Mathews said. "The middle shift's kind of that shift where they just make sure people are asleep, stay asleep, or friend-shipping, fellowshipping. And then the last part helps people get out the door." Mathew said in three seasons about 30 people who used to stay here are now housed because this space helped connect them to resources. "We had one of our staff members who was on the mats last year say to us, it felt like family, and that made his day better knowing that he had a place to stay that night so he wasn't worried about where he was going to go," she said. There is no donation collection at the warming center. Items can be taken to Community Action Services and Food Bank in Provo.

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