A Warm Welcome: How Churches Are Serving as Warming Centers
- Libby Janes
- 2 hours ago
- 6 min read
Libby Janes, Director of the Synod of the Sun Partnership for Disaster Recovery
From January 23rd through 28th, a huge winter storm moved through the Synod of the Sun. Two days before the onset, the Synod of the Sun Partnership for Disaster Recovery (SPDR) sent out an alert sharing meteorological updates and NOAA forecast images from the Gulf Coast Regional VOAD meeting, urging congregations to take steps to prepare. Presbyterian churches across the four states – Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas - winterized their buildings, checked on vulnerable neighbors, prepared emergency supplies, and waited out the storm. Arkansas’ Disaster Response Team reported with joy that every church they had called to check on had seen SPDR’s warning message, and no weather-related church damages were reported for their presbytery. SPDR hopes to continue strong communication, to bring statewide resources to support and prepare local congregations, and to collaborate with presbytery disaster response teams to check on local churches during, and in recovery efforts following, disasters.
During the storms, SPDR called to check on congregations within areas affected by power outages, per public data online, and connected presbyteries with PDA initial assistance grants for winter storm recovery, and to support emerging disaster ministries. While reaching out to congregations, there was a noticeable scarcity of warming centers, particularly in rural areas, with perhaps only a single site available in a wide region, difficult to reach by icy roads. SPDR recognized more warming centers are needed, across the Synod of the Sun.
In East Texas and Northern Louisiana, where power outages were particularly severe, warming centers became critical centers for saving lives. SPDR connected with leaders from three Presbyterian churches who support warming center ministries in their communities, to ask for their advice for other Synod of the Sun churches who might do the same. Grace Presbytery, Presbytery of the Pines, SPDR, and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance are actively collaborating to support winter storm relief programs like these, and other storm recovery efforts. Read on for helpful tips from fellow churches for mobilizing your church into a warming center site for the next freeze:
St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Longview, Texas
One of the regions hardest hit by winter storm power outages was East Texas. A small church in Longview, St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, was committed to keeping their church open through the storms. Stephen Crane, a Ruling Elder at St. Andrews serving on their missions committee, contacted the Synod Partnership for Disaster Recovery (SPDR) to share stories of how their church was sharing their warmth with their local community.
St Andrew Presbyterian Church in Longview, TX has teamed up with local Methodists and Episcopalians, and a local nonprofit program called One Love Longview, whose motto is “sparking hope through kindness.”
Together, this partnership keeps their doors open on cold days, operating as a warming center together. They offer to anyone seeking shelter from the cold a warm shower, transportation to arrive safely. Stephen explained that One Love Longview used to serve the local homeless community from their central building, but when their lease was not renewed in 2024, local churches stepped up to share their church buildings to continue this ministry.
Over the course of the winter storms, St. Andrew Presbyterian Church and St. Michaels and All Angels Episcopal Church housed more than 20 neighbors for about nine nights and 5 days. Photos sent to SPDR from this ministry show big smiles, cozy cots in a line, and delicious food. At night in warm fellowship, cards and colored pencils and a bag of Sour Patch kids are signs of the Holy Spirit bringing neighbors together.
Left - Fun activities and a warm place to gather bring smiles to all. Center - Guests gather to watch a movie at the warming center. Right - The Longview clothes closet keeps donated clothes and blankets stocked and ready to share with guests.
Canyon Creek Presbyterian Church in Richardson, Texas
Another church that shared their ministry story with SPDR was Canyon Creek Presbyterian Church in Richardson, Texas. SPDR met with Rev. Leanne Kerner, Director of Community Engagement & Play, to seek advice about how churches can join community partners to run warming centers on freezing days.
Rev. Kerner explained their warming center is hosted by the City of Plano at the East Plano Islamic Center and is supported by an interfaith partnership of volunteers from local faith communities. Canyon Creek has been training and sending teams of volunteers to assist with the warming center for a few years now, and Rev. Kerner says people even follow weather forecasts, eagerly looking forward to their next opportunity to serve, and urging others to join them.
Volunteer gathering is a key start to warming center ministries. Rev. Kerner advises that good team leaders make a big difference for volunteer recruitment. Retired people with active energy and those who are deeply connected with other local community programs make excellent leaders. 23 church volunteers from Canyon Creek Presbyterian were gathered and trained at a collective community event, where they were advised through a PowerPoint training on what to expect, how to safely and courteously engage vulnerable populations, and the systems of the warming center programs.
Planning ahead is also important for all disaster work, and especially warming centers. Rev. Kerner advises that they train new waves of volunteers during the spring, in preparation for the following winter.
Rev. Kerner astutely noted that the best time to fundraise for disaster programs is during disasters, when urgency of a current storm and community focus on these needs gives momentum to disaster readiness, and that funds given now can be saved to support future situations.
The warming center remains open any time the temperature dips below freezing. At the warming center check-in, each guest is assigned a number to track their needs. Volunteers greet guests at check-in, and facilitate shower service, a dinner service, and overnight monitoring. At the shower trailer, purchased in 2020, it operates like a truck stop, where volunteers call persons’ numbers, and belongings are safely stored except for a Ziploc of portable items. Dinner is a full meal service and a time of fellowship. Overnight, shifts of two volunteers monitor the center while people sleep on cots. The center has coordinated a bus pickup from the local bus station, looping every four hours. A free clothing closet is offered, but often needs more donations of socks and underwear. Rev. Kerner shared that volunteers are currently working on plans for a laundry program, to support people during prolonged periods freezing weather.
The city of Plano is supportive of this system as well. Two police officers and two paramedics are provided by city funding to standby for safety or medical assistance, although needs scarcely arise. Rev. Kerner notes that city officials are often glad to support warming center programs because of the great humanitarian relief they offer towns, especially where warming centers are not otherwise locally available. Rev. Kerner encourages churches to contact their city planner, to see what public resources may be able to support a church in developing a warming center.
I wondered if it’s a challenge getting volunteers safely to warming centers, during icy weather. Rev. Kerner said people must drive carefully, but she has been surprised to see how motivated they are to arrive, even on icy roads. “Once people has prayerfully discerned that this is a need, they just commit to do it!”
Connect with SPDR
When local disaster response ministries connect with SPDR to let us know about their growing disaster ministries, SPDR can help support those programs by connecting them with broader resources from presbytery disaster teams, SPDR, and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance. SPDR is committed to providing support to help expand church ministries’ capacity to serve their local communities.
Would your church like to learn more about how to develop a warming center, or partner with your city’s warming programs?
Is your church actively engaged in warming centers?
Let us know! Contact Libby Janes, Director of the Synod of the Sun Partnership for Disaster Recovery (SPDR) to share your church’s experiences and receive additional resources to get started!
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