Shawnee, Oklahoma, December 29, 2022 – Many volunteers provided over 480 hours of service to the Emergency Warming Shelter during the December 22 – 25, 2022 cold spell. Local businesses, churches and community members also donated food, clothing, and other items.

The emergency shelter was housed in the gym of the C3 Cross Connection Church, located at 329 N Pesotum Avenue. City staff worked with community partner organizations and volunteers to quickly assemble a shelter that not only provided warmth, but food and other care items necessary to run the facility during last week’s bitter cold. The shelter was occupied by 77 individuals at its peak. People used the shelter for various reasons, including no heat due to loss of utilities, homelessness, victims of housefires, and those stranded with a vehicle breakdown.

Thank you to the members of the Homelessness in Shawnee Roundtable for organizing the Emergency Warming Station. “This is an alliance of organizations that have come together as a unified group to address homelessness in Shawnee and had a plan in place for cold weather events,” said Erika Genty, City of Shawnee Homeless Program Coordinator. Members include Absentee Shawnee Tribe, Altruistic Farmstead, Central Oklahoma Community Action Agency (COCAA), C3 Cross Connection Church, Community Health Center, Community Market, Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Evangelistic Center, Free Spirit Hair Design, Friends Feast, Frontline Church, Gateway to Prevention, Generations Church, IBC Missions, Journey Through Recovery, Legacy Parenting, Let’s Talk Socks, Living Word Church, Nana’s Answered Prayers, Oklahoma DHS, Pottawatomie County Health Department, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, Salvation Army, Shawnee Bridges, Shawnee Public Library, Shawnee Rescue Mission, SSM Health, United Presbyterian Church, University Baptist Church, Victory Family Church, and Wesley United Methodist Church, and Youth & Family Services.

City of Shawnee officials would like to thank the following organizations and individuals who committed to or contributed transportation, haircuts, food, clothing, or other items for use at the shelter: Natalie Arnet, Nancy Barrett, Bethel Baptist Church, Ed & Phyllis Bolt, Alicia Carter, Central Disposal, Citizen Potawatomi Nation, Kellie Clay, Community Market, C3 Cross Connection Church, Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Friends Feast, Bill Goode, Kevin Hall, Shane Hall, Marco’s Pizza, New Beginnings Church, Jessie Newell, April Robinson, St. John Baptist Church in Brooksdale, Salvation Army, Shawnee Public Library, South Rock Creek School Student Council, University Baptist Church, Van Eaton Ready Mix, and Wesley United Methodist Church.

Additionally, a heartfelt thank you is extended to the following individuals who volunteered their time to help staff the shelter, with a special thank you to Janice Sanchez for scheduling the volunteers:

Burt Albers, LaDonna Autrey, Carrie Biddle, Ed & Phyllis Bolt, Amanda Boughner, Dan Clay, Kellie Clay, David Debus, Steven Dodson, Charles Edwards, Lori Edwards, Mary Beth Edwards, Teresa Edwards, Carie Eidle, Tina Ferguson, Todd Forrest, Bjorn Genty, Jack H., Dianna Hall, Rian Harkins, Veronika Herbert, Billy Herron, Sheila Hughes, Roy Hunte, Sarah Inselman, Randy Jackson, Adelaide Lack, Debbie Lober, Vikki Lyall, Jerry Madison, Azeem Magsi, Teresa Magsi, Bobby McBroom, Craig McIntyre, Fran McIntyre, Colt Nelson, Jackie Noble, Erick Ozuna, Amanda Partain, Chad Payn, Dena Payn, Monty Porter, Jayla Pryor, Josephine Rodarte, Melody Samonte, Sharon Short, Cori Smith, Cory Smith, Joan Smith, Walter Smith, Clifford Trace, Jim VanAntwerp, Darcie Wallace, Rosemary Stowe Wallace, Donna Wentzel, Melissa Whaley, Jeri Williams, Tim Wilson, and Shannon Woodruff.

City officials view the shelter as an opportunity to further engage the homeless as part of broader community and economic development efforts.

To learn how you or your organization can provide support for the next Emergency Warming Shelter, please contact Erika Genty, City of Shawnee Homeless Program Coordinator, at 405-878-1543 or Erika.Genty@ShawneeOK.org.