As Cold Blast Settles Into Cherokee, Church Opens Warming Shelter

Canton-based Action Church has opened its warming shelter for the county’s less fortunate residents.

The shelter opened on Thursday, and will also open its doors tonight and Saturday. The shelter’s hours are 5 p.m. to 8:30 a.m., and the shelter is at 271 Marietta Road in Canton.

The shelter will open whenever temperatures are forecast to drop below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Tommy Simmons of Action Church said the facility had just two individuals stay overnight on Thursday.

“When we first start off, folks don’t know about it until word gets out on social media,” he said. Once word gets out, they can have anywhere from 15 to 20 people who utilize the shelter to stay warm, Simmons stated.

Action Church coordinates their efforts with the city of Canton and the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office’s Homeland Security - Office of Emergency Management. Cherokee officials inform Action Church about the upcoming weather forecast, which allows shelter organizers to prepare for the influx of residents, Simmons said.

Looking ahead to next week, Simmons noted the church is already preparing to open their doors, as overnight temperatures are slated to fall well below freezing.

According to the National Weather Service, Cherokee County will see below-freezing lows tonight and Saturday. A brief reprieve will occur on Sunday when the low temperature will drop to around 43 degrees.

However, the lows for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday will once again dip below freezing. Monday’s low will be around 24 degrees and low temperatures will hover around 19 degrees for Tuesday and 26 degrees for Wednesday.

The highs for those three days will range from the mid to upper 30s to around 50 degrees.

Residents are encouraged to drop off donations, such as blankets, food, air mattresses and even money to help Action Church with its endeavors, Simmons added.

For more information about the shelter or how to help, call (678) 357-9948.

Photo credit: Patch file