December 20, 2022
Due to the extreme cold forecasted in the upcoming days, the City of Lawrence is extending hours for the Winter Emergency Shelter (WES) to keep it open continuously from 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 21 until 7 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 27. The WES will only be able to operate under these extended hours if we get sufficient volunteer support from the community to supplement City staff at the site.
The Winter Emergency Shelter will continue to be in operation nightly from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. and people will be able to use the Community Building as a “warming site” from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. once WES closes. Those staying at the shelter will not need to leave at any point from 9 a.m. on Dec. 21 until 7 a.m. on Dec. 27. Regardless of whether the City closes the recreation centers due to weather, the Community Building will remain open as a warming site for our unsheltered residents.
The City is in critical need of volunteers to cover the following WES volunteer shifts. You can sign up online here.
- Dec. 24 from noon to 7 p.m.
- Dec. 24 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
- Dec. 24 from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.
- Dec. 25 from 8 a.m. to noon
- Dec. 25 from noon to 7 p.m.
Additionally, the WES is in urgent need of donations, including the below, which can be brought to the Community Building, 115 W 11th St., during its hours of operation and from 7-11 p.m. nightly.
- Winter Gloves (All Adult Sizes)
- Wool Hats (All Adult Sizes)
- Wool Socks (All Adult Sizes)
- Hot Hands & Hot Feet
- Individually packaged snack food (protein bars, trail mix, crackers, etc.)
The Community Building is the only emergency shelter that the City will have open on Sunday, Dec. 25, as the other recreation facilities will be closed for the holiday. All other days, the other recreation facilities, including the East Lawrence Recreation Center, Holcom Park Recreation Center and Sports Pavilion Lawrence, are open as warming sites during their normal operating hours. Regular hours are on the City website here and special holiday hours are listed in this news release.
Looking ahead, the City will also keep the WES open for 24 hours on Sunday, Jan. 1, as other City buildings and community organizations will be closed for the holiday. Volunteer support will also be needed on Jan. 1, and you can sign-up online here.
Lawrence is under a Winter Storm Watch from 12 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 22 through 12 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 23. There is a wind chill watch from 6 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 22 through noon on Friday, Dec. 23.
The City asks our community for kindness, empathy and to please take the time to stop and check on people this time of year. For more information on homeless programs, please visit the City website, lawrenceks.org/homeless-solutions.
Contact: Mitch Young, Houseless Liaison | Cicely Thornton, Homeless Programs Project Specialist | homelessprograms@lawrenceks.org