WILMINGTON — Looking for a safe place to retreat this weekend as the temperature drops? The Warming Shelter ILM is opening its doors at 1403 Market St. Friday and Saturday, Feb. 3-4 to host anyone experiencing homelessness.
The emergency pop-up refuge, located at Trinity UMC, is a collaborative effort of local United Methodist Churches. It offers a place to eat a hot meal, take a shower, grab some essential care items and snag a cot to spend the night. Guests can check in at 5 p.m. each night, but pets cannot be accommodated.
Since 2016, local faith-based groups have offered this service for any two consecutive nights where the temperature drops below 30 degrees. Over Christmas weekend, it hosted 93 guests on its busiest night, up one-third from last year’s numbers.
More than 200 volunteers support the cause with donations, organization, set up and time spent with the guests.
This weekend, the county commissioners were invited to join for dinner to engage with the unhoused population.
There are no requirements to attend the warming shelter and receive hospitality. To learn more, make a donation, or find a list of needed supplies, visit the website.
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