A photo of a woman trying to find sun to warm up this afternoon in downtown Reno, Nevada, on Dec. 16.
Here's a message from a new local mutual aid initiative called Good Neighbors Warming Center looking for help to help our neighbors in need.
“Good Neighbors Warming Center is pleased to announce the opening of a warming center in Reno. Good Neighbors Warming Center will operate from December 17, 2024 until March 11, 2024. This warming center is in collaboration with St. Thomas Aquinas Cathedral, Reno First United Methodist Church, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Lutheran Church of the Good Shepard, Reno Initiative for Shelter & Equality (R.I.S.E), and good neighbors just like you!
The Good Neighbors Warming Center will be open to women, families, and single dads with children. The Good Neighbors Warming center seeks to provide a warm, indoor location open overnight for people experiencing exposure to the elements that are unwilling or unable to get into a shelter. Warming centers save lives by preventing injuries and deaths from exposure to the elements. They are designed to prevent hypothermia, frostbite, and other injuries that can occur when people are living and sleeping in extremely cold or below-freezing temperatures. Though there are several shelters in our area, during the Winter months they often remain full, leaving many to try to survive outside.
The Good Neighbors Warming Center will rotate operations at four Reno churches on a weekly schedule. The Good Neighbors Warming Center will be staffed by R.I.S.E staff trauma-informed advocates, harm reduction specialists, faith communities, and good neighbors just like you! The Good Neighbors Warming Center will operate from 9pm- 6am daily at each location. The dates and location of the Good Neighbors Warming Center as listed below:
· Site 1: St. Thomas Aquinas Cathedral
o Dec. 17-23, Jan. 14-20, & Feb. 11-17
· Site 2: Reno First United Methodist Church
o Dec. 24-30, Jan. 21-27, & Feb. 18-24
· Site 3: Trinity Episcopal Cathedral
o Dec. 31-Jan. 6, Jan. 28-Feb. 3, & Feb. 25-Mar. 3
· Site 4: Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd
o Jan. 7-13, Feb. 4-10, & Mar. 4-10
*This schedule is subject to change.
Those interested in providing physical donations such as menstural hygiene products, yoga mats, blankets, etc or those interested in getting involved should email: goodneighborsreno@gmail.com.”