Several warming centers are opening to give Pittsburghers refuge from the bitter cold temperatures this week.
The City of Pittsburgh has opened the Greenfield, Homewood, Sheraden and South Side Market House Senior Centers to help Pittsburghers get out of the cold. They will be open daily from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. until further notice.
The Light of Life Rescue Mission is also opening its front doors – and offering snacks and hot chocolate – during the day.
Kate Wadsworth, public relations manager, said the shelter is open Thursday for anyone looking to escape the cold.
“Light of Life provides food and shelter year-round,” Wadsworth said. “But today, we are opening our doors all day for people to come and find a safe and warm space to spend their day.”
She said people can come in for a quick 10-minute warm up or stay the entire day if they’d like.
“We would welcome anybody to come,” Wadsworth said. “And in addition to what we’re providing as far as the warm, safe space, the hot chocolate, that sort of thing, we are also giving away hats, gloves, coats, blankets – things that people need to stay warm.”
She said the clothing they give out comes from donations.
“We have had so many generous people in Pittsburgh make donations of these items throughout the winter season,” Wadsworth said. “And we give them away all year, all season long, but especially days like today, we are so thankful to have a surplus of those to be able to give out when someone comes.”
She said the Light of Life works to provide food and emergency service, and opening its doors like this gives the organization a wider reach.
“The point of that and things like we’re doing today is really to meet the critical need and form the relationships with people that might have a bigger need that we can help down the line,” Wadsworth said. “It’s just an entry point for us to get to know people and build those relationships so that if someone has a need for food, clothing, shelter, we can really help them by getting them in our doors.
And any night during the winter the temperature dips below 26 degrees (F), Operation Safety Net and Allegheny County open the Severe Weather Emergency Shelter at the Smithfield United Church for men and the Shepard’s Heart Fellowship for women.
