RICHMOND, Ind. – Freezing temperatures have Richmond’s overnight warming center working to stay open for those in need.
The center, located at LifeSpring Church South, 501 S. 7th Street, first opened in 2022. It activates whenever temperatures drop to 25 degrees or below, offering space for up to 20 guests.
Photo submission by Carl Rhinehart.
“Each guest will receive a hot meal when they arrive and also a hot meal before they depart the next morning,” said EWC Director Carl Rhinehart. “Guests receive a cot to sleep on with warm blankets and a pillow. We have clothes, hats, gloves, toiletries, wash clothes, and other items that guests may need while at the warming center or when they go back out.”
The center’s ability to open depends on volunteer support. “If we don’t have enough volunteers to safely run the center, we will not open,” he said.
At least three volunteers are needed per shift to handle setup, meals, transportation, and cleanup. While occasional funding allows for one or two staff members to be compensated, Rhinehart said the operation is primarily volunteer-driven.
Guests must arrive by 9 p.m. and remain inside overnight, with exceptions for those discharged from hospitals or brought in by law enforcement.
The warming center is sustained by grassroots support, including Oak Park Pentecostals, LifeSpring Church, and donations from local churches, businesses, and individuals. Funding varies year to year, making long-term stability a challenge.
“Community members donate supplies, meals, and their skills to the mission of the warming center,” said Rhinehart. “A consistent funding source for the next 3-5 years would be monumental in helping us recruit and retain individuals for key positions that would ensure that the warming center is able to meet the needs of the people and the mission despite the number of volunteers available.”
Rhinehart emphasized the center’s role in keeping people safe. Without it, he said, individuals may seek shelter in abandoned buildings or outdoors, sometimes resorting to unsafe fires to stay warm.
“Without the warming center, some individuals may fall victim to the elements, losing limbs or their life,” he said.
For Rhinehart, the mission goes beyond shelter. “Each night they spend in the warming center, is a night spent off the streets,” he said. “Homelessness, despite being difficult to measure, is real in Richmond and throughout Wayne County,” Rhinehart said.
Volunteer hours are 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm, 10:00 pm - 2:00 am, 2:00 am - 6:00 am, and 6:00 am - 8:00 am.
For anyone wanting more details about Richmond’s Emergency Warming Center, there are a few ways to connect. You can follow the center’s Facebook page, Emergency Warming Center – Richmond, IN, call 2-1-1 for statewide assistance, or reach out directly through Facebook or by email at ewcrichmondin@gmail.com.
