Any resident without heating can find refuge from the cold
As temperatures drop below freezing, many Gilmer County residents may find themselves in need of warmth.
Whether they are homeless or have homes that aren’t properly heated, the Gilmer County Warming Center provides them with a warm place to stay the night.
“Our mission is to ensure that people without shelter or heat in Gilmer County have a place to sleep indoors and a warm meal when temperatures drop below 32 degrees,” co-chair Rachel Tarr said.
Along with her fellow co-chair Jackie Watson, she maintains the free warming center. The shelter has been in operation for five years now.
The center is open any night when temperatures drop below freezing for most of the night, Tarr said.
“It’s not just a temporary homeless shelter. It’s for anybody who might not have heat during the night,” she said.
It provides cots, bedclothes, warm meals and breakfast.
“You really don’t need to bring anything with you,” she said. “We have everything.”
The Gilmer County Warming Center is located at Gilmer County Civic Center, 1561 South Main Street in Ellijay, and opens at 5 p.m. Its entrance is located on the same side of the building as the pickleball courts.
There are enough cots for 20 people. Men and women must sleep separately, and there is a special area for families. The center can provide crates for pets, but the pets must be able to remain in the crates the whole time.
At 7 a.m. the next day, the shelter closes. On particularly cold days, volunteers sometimes keep the center open for longer.
The center announces when it’s open on its Facebook page at The Gilmer County Warming Center.
The center relies on volunteers to stay open. Those interested in volunteering get extra training before they serve.
Those who stay at the center must follow the center’s rules. They must not bring alcohol or drugs, and they must treat other guests kindly.
“We rarely have a problem,” she said.
Those with questions, concerns or needs can call Tarr at 770-316-4934 or Watson at 404-909-3275.