Donate.

Donations can be brought to the warming center location during the intake hours of 7-9 p.m. on the nights we're open or to the Dallas Resource Center, and we can distribute from there as needed. Please contact us if you would like to make other arrangements. Thanks for your support!

Below is a list of items we are stocking to give out at the warming centers. The Resource Center also maintains an inventory of additional items to help families in need and as they transition to more stable housing. The most urgent items are marked in red.

WARM

  • Warm clothing: wool socks, gloves,​ beanies, scarves, coats, etc.* We often refer guests to the Dallas Community Clothing Closet for other items too difficult for us to sort and stock (https://dallasec.org/clothing-closet).
  • Camping mats and cots*
  • Blankets and sleeping bags*​ (synthetic and wool materials are preferred for their durability and warmth when wet)
  • Disposable handwarmers
  • Social activities: playing cards, board games, puzzles, and magazines/books*

CLEAN

  • New/unopened toiletries: combs, toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss, deodorant, medicated lip balm, sunscreen/lotion, etc.
  • No-rinse/waterless "dry" shampoo
  • Men's underwear
  • Feminine hygiene products
  • Facial wet wipes
  • Disinfecting wipes (like Lysol or Clorox)
  • Laundry detergent pods
  • ​Towels*

FED

  • Instant decaf/regular coffee, tea bags
  • Juice cans/boxes
  • Bottled water
  • Healthy grab-and-go snacks: granola/breakfast/protein bars, trail mix packets, raisins, nuts, tuna/crackers, jerky, fruit cups, etc.
  • Shelf-stable foods that can be cooked with hot water: bullion, instant oatmeal/noodles/soups (cups preferred), ready-to-eat freeze-dried meals, etc.​
*clean, second-hand okay

Volunteer.

Would you like to serve your Polk County neighbors?
  • We are looking for overnight hosts as well as general volunteers to help set up, clean up, and welcome guests.
  • All volunteers will need to complete a video-based training before serving.
  • Overnight hosts will go through extra face-to-face training and will eligible for a stipend for the nights they serve.
  • General volunteers are most needed 6:45-9:00 p.m. for set up and welcoming guests and 6:00-7:00 a.m. for clean up and transition of guests. Mature teenagers under the age of 18 may volunteer with their parents until 11 p.m.

Be part of a team! 
Transportation - We are recruiting volunteer drivers who can help transport individuals or families to/from the center as needed. If your organization has a vehicle/driver that could be used for this, please let us know.
Outreach - Teams are being put together to post fliers and distribute cards throughout rural Polk County so that those who may need to utilize the warming centers this Winter will know about it. Would you like to be part of an outreach team?
Laundry - Want to help to wash and refresh the bedding to prepare for new guests? We average a load or two per night that we're open.
Adopt-A-Night - We'd love to be able to bless our guests with a hot meal on the nights we open. It can be as simple as a pot of soup and some bread. You are welcome to stay to eat with our guests, too! Please let us know if you or your organization are interested in serving in this way.

Become a host site.

Do you have a public space that you'd be willing to open up 7 p.m. - 7 a.m. on the coldest nights this Winter?
  • We are looking for locations throughout rural Polk County (outside of West Salem).
  • The main requirements are that your space is open to the public, safe and warm.
  • Each location is on call for two weeks, and then we rotate (November 1 - March 31).
  • If the temperature forecast is 32F or below, we activate.
  • A trailer will be towed to your location, filled with all the supplies and equipment needed!
  • Volunteers and overnight hosts are drawn from the community, so your organization/congregation can be as involved as you'd like to be. Our goal is to make the opportunity to serve our neighbors a joy, not a burden.
  • Host sites are welcome to coordinate and serve a hot meal on the nights we open, but this is not required.
Photos used under Creative Commons from sonstroem, Anderson Mancini