Warming Shelter ILM opens for 2nd of 3 straight nights

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — With more cold weather conditions expected Monday night, the Warming Shelter ILM opened for the second consecutive night.

Dozens of people lined up outside Grace United Methodist Church early Monday night as they waited for the shelter to open.

Cold temperatures have led the shelter to open for the 3rd time so far this winter, a safe sanctuary for people experiencing homelessness, like Tyler Garrett.

“Day before last this one, it got up around 22 degrees Fahrenheit,” Garrett said. “Yeah, that’s not the kind of thing that you know, 3 layers of blankets will do, so you got to come here. It’s kind of a necessity. If you don’t, you know, something’s gonna happen to you.”

Cots were laid out for more than 100 people seeking an escape from the cold.

Inside, volunteers handed out homemade tacos for dinner, cakes and cupcakes for dessert, along with amenities like fresh clothes and toiletries.

According to shelter executive director Meg McBride, the shelter will open when there are at least two consecutive nights predicted by the National Weather Service to be below 30-degrees.

Last week, McBride posted a long message to the shelter’s Facebook page, sharing their decision-making process.

“Usually 24 to 48 hours sometimes long, ahead of time,” McBride said. “The more we’re able to call it open ahead of time, of course, the better response we receive for volunteers and supplies. But you know, sometimes the weather changes, sometimes we call it right. Sometimes we call it and its 40 degrees outside and we’re wondering why we’re here. And then other times, we don’t call it and it turns out being very cold.”

McBride said all of the volunteer spots are full at the moment, but donations like paper cups and plats, along with sweatshirts and pants are needed.

The shelter will open again on Tuesday night, closing Wednesday morning.

McBride said she is keeping an eye on the weather for the weekend of the 24th and 25th, as even colder temperatures are expected to hit the area.