Warming Center Open Friday Night At Douglasville UMC

DOUGLASVILLE, GA — The Douglasville United Methodist Church will be offering access to their warming center Friday again, after making it available to those in need for the previous four nights. The church, located at 6167 Prestley Mill Road, will open at 7 p.m. and remain open until Saturday, Jan. 6, at 8:30 a.m.

"We have been opening as a warming center and shelter in collaboration with Douglas County Emergency Management for the past five years," Rev. Heather M. Jallad, associate pastor, told Patch on Tuesday. "When they ask, we open. Typically volunteers have been shelter trained by the county along with some of our church members. We typically provide hot coffee. Emergency Management provides items such as crackers, cots, blankets. Some folks have blessed those in the shelter with hot food. That has been very appreciated."

"Douglasville First United Church does this because we believe that Jesus calls us to love our neighbors and this is a very tangible way to do that and frankly it is the right thing to do," she said. "God has provided us with the facilities and the location to offer this kind of blessing to our community."

The location of the warming center is at the youth activity building on the campus of First United Methodist Church at 6167 Prestley Mill Rd, Douglasville, Ga, 30134. Douglas County Animal Services Director Frances McMillan wants to encourage pet owners to keep your animals indoors overnight from the freezing temperatures.

Residents who own pets and need access to the warming center are encouraged to bring their pets to the warming center where officials will work with animal services to accommodate the animals.

Photo courtesy Douglasville United Methodist Church