Warming center up and running, but looking for donations, volunteers to help out

The warming center is also looking to area businesses for help with coffee, food, and beverage donations, which can be dropped off right to the center. (Courtesy photo)

ROCHESTER - With temperatures hovering in the single digits during the day and wind chills plunging well below zero at night, SOS Recovery of Rochester is leading an effort to provide a warming shelter to those in need during this stretch of severe weather.

John Burns, director of SOS of Strafford County, who was overseeing some of the operations today down at the Community Center on Wakefield Steet, said there were about 20 folks who slept on cots there Thursday night.

"A lot of these people were sleeping outside in tents or in cars," Burns said today.

The shelter was put together with help from Tri-City Co-Op, Strafford County Public Health Network, Mayor Caroline McCarley, City Manager Dan Fitzpatrick, and the Rochester Fire Chief, Mark Klose.

Burns said an all-volunteer effort is being used to run the warming center, and more volunteers are needed to stay at full staff, adding they need three people working together for four-hour shifts.

Meanwhile, Burns said area restaurants and business have already come through bigtime with Granite Steak and Grill, Revolution Taproom and Grill donating complete meals and Hannaford's and Aroma Joe's also helping out.

Straight Street Outreach will also be providing some meals.

Burns said the warming center will provide shelter and meals to the needy 24 hours a day at least through Tuesday.

"We could probably take care of 100," Burns said.

The warming center is also looking to area businesses for help with coffee, food, and beverage donations, which can be dropped off right at the center.

The warming shelter contact number is 978-378-5094

If you would like to volunteer click here.