Warming Center closes for season

MOSES LAKE — After three months of serving locals in need, the Warming Center in Moses Lake closed its operations for the 2016-2017 winter season this morning.

The Warming Center opened for those in need on Dec. 1 and stayed open every day without out fail from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. in the former Boys and Girls Club building on West Third Avenue in Moses Lake. The idea behind the Warming Center was to provide a place for people to come to off the streets and receive a warm meal as temperatures dipped during the cold winter months.

Grant County Homeless Task Force chair Sheila Chilson said one of the main reasons the Warming Center was only open for three months is because the center was operated and staffed by local volunteers. The center served 20 people a night during the three months it was open, during which time 790 volunteer shifts were provided by 13 churches in the Moses Lake area, Chilson said.

“The Task Force wishes to thank the churches, volunteers and community members that donated time and/or supplies to the success of operations. The Homeless Task Force will begin planning for warming center operations for the 2017-18 winter,” Chilson stated.

For more information on the Warming Center contact Chilson at 509-771-2361 or email schilson@mlchc.org.

Richard Byrd can be reached via email at city@columbiabasinherald.com.