Warming Centers Open Throughout Indy

Even though the Indianapolis Public Schools were closed Wednesday due to a daylong wind-chill warning, many different locations across the city opened as warming centers.

The Salvation Army, as part of an agreement with the city, opened its facilities’ doors and welcomed people with warm drinks, food, games and fellowship, said Jerry Larson, Emergency Disaster Services Director for The Salvation Army Indiana Division.

The city asked the Salvation Army to open its doors for 12 hours each day, Larsen said.

“It’s just great to have a cup of hot chocolate and be in the building.” Prejudice Robinson said.

Robinson said he had been searching for a job in the cold for about two hours before he came into the shelter on Michigan Street.

At first, Robinson said he did not know what was happening but then realized that the Salvation Army was “warming up the neighborhood.”

Currently, none of the Salvation Army facilities are running around the clock, but if the city asks, the Eagle Creek location on 4400 North High School Road in Indianapolis could be ready in about an hour, Larsen said.

One reason that the shelters are not running during the night is because most of the people the centers serve have a place to go during after dark, Larsen said. He added that some people turn down their heat during the day to save money, so they come to the centers to stay warm until that evening when they go home and turn up the thermostat.

Larsen said some people come in for an hour or so while others stay longer.

Michael Pearce came into the shelter earlier in the day and played different games including a card game name “Tonks” and the board game “Checkers.” Pearce said he plans to stay for 30 more minutes and return tomorrow.

About 50 to 60 people have come to the location on Michigan Street in the past day, Larsen said. The numbers might seem “insignificant,” but there are other warming centers available to people as well, he said.

“The main thing is to be open and available throughout the 12 hours we are open, and we will be doing that at least through Friday,” Larsen said.

According to the National Weather Service, temperatures will continue to drop tonight with the wind chill to be 20 to 30 degrees below zero in all but the southernmost part of Indiana.