Illinois churches offer shelter after winter storm brings heavy snowfall

While people in central Illinois dug out from heavy snowfall, the state’s southernmost counties were covered in ice and fallen trees causing power losses, leaving many without shelter. That’s when local churches came to the rescue.

As snow fell and temperatures dropped last week, the City of Harrisburg asked if Dorrisville Baptist Church could serve as a warming center after its own center quickly filled to capacity at 30 people. With a reported 60,000 customers in the area without electricity, the need was great.

In his second week as pastor, Carlton Binkley called members together to set up the church’s multi-purpose room as a warming center. “We’ve got a generator running, we’ve got showers, we’ve got cots, and we’ve got a working kitchen,” Binkley alerted the community in a Facebook video. “If you know people who are without power, who are without any kind of water, or any kind of heat, they can come in and shelter in place here.”

The church had installed the generator and showers, and purchased some cots, a few years ago in case of an emergency. Then, thanks to the American Red Cross and generous donations, additional cots were donated allowing the church to provide sleeping accommodations for up to 150. Dorrisville Church housed 120 people on Monday night. By Tuesday afternoon, Binkley estimated they had served at least 200, including those who came in to take a shower and charge their phones.

About 75 volunteers from Dorrisville Church are working in shifts to staff the shelter and serve in the kitchen to provide meals. Everything came together quickly, Binkley said, even without a specific plan to operate a shelter. Among those serving were church members who had trained with Illinois Baptist Disaster Relief.

Members from McKinley Avenue and Liberty Baptist Churches also volunteered. And First Baptist Church Harrisburg offered supplies from that church’s crisis pregnancy center for the 15-20 infants and small children being housed by the church.

Cornerstone’s facility was a former Walmart building. The warming center is in the garage bay area where customers formerly went for oil and tire changes. The church currently uses the space for its garage ministry where Thrash said, “Guys that love cars meet.” They minister by doing oil changes for single moms and basic car maintenance. In addition to their work on cars, they do a Bible study. The church had just installed a new furnace in the space.

Thrash said they’ve served 34 people, with an average of 10 staying overnight. Most have been local homeless people, but a few have been those without power and the state police brought in some stranded motorists.

According to Cornerstone, 48 church members are staffing the shelter over three shifts a day and eight are providing meals. Volunteers from other local churches are also pitching in, as well as the Coalition for the Homeless and Take Action for Today. Those organizations are taking people to appointments and to get showers.

“We will continue through Sunday, as long as it’s needed,” said Thrash. “Anytime the temperature is going to be below freezing at night people need help.” The damage from snow combined with two-thirds of an inch of ice is extensive. More snow is predicted for the area starting Friday.

Illinois Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers have been put on standby to respond. In an email to volunteers on Jan. 6, State Coordinator Arnold Ramage wrote, “Now is the time to pack and prepare your equipment for deployment. Working conditions will be cold and brutal, so please pack accordingly.”

By Wednesday morning IBDR had already received 109 requests for assistance in removing downed trees and tree limbs from property. Once assessments are done and it is safe for chainsaw teams to be out, work will begin. Ramage estimates that will be on Jan. 13.

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This story first appeared on Illinois Baptist.