Shawnee, Oklahoma, February 7, 2023 – Many volunteers came together and provided over 480 hours of service to the Emergency Warming Shelter during the January 29 – February 1, 2023, 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 91 individuals at its peak. People used the shelter for various reasons, which included having no heat due to loss of utilities, being homeless, or having been 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 they had a plan in place for cold weather events,” said Erika Genty, City of Shawnee Homeless Program Coordinator. Members include the 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, food, clothing, or other items for use at the shelter:

C3 Church, Emmanuel Episcopal Church, FireLake Discount Foods, Community Market, Wesley United Methodist Church, University Baptist Church, New Beginnings Church, Victory Family Church, and Central Disposal.

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:

Joseph Alldredge, Jazzlyn Beckman, Amanda Boughner, Quincy Brown, Robin Brother, Michael Buckmaster, Nancy Campbell, Delinda Curtis, Sky Daniels, Lori Edwards, Claire Genty, Kevin Hall, Suzanne Hardin, Rian Harkins, Veronika Herbert, April Herndon, Billy Herron, Jack Hunter, Roy Hunter, Sarah Inselman, LaDonna Jessee, Vikki Lyall, Thomas Maloan, Bree Moon, David Northrip, Katie Parsons, Amanda Partain, Melissa Phelps, Judy Rodriguez, Jennifer Rotter, Wendell Rotter, Melody Samonte, Janice Sanchez, Sharon Short, Joan Smith, Jim VanAntwerp, Darcie Wallace, Rosemary Stowe-Wallace, Carl Wilkerson, Tim Wilson, and Fanya Wolf.

“We will continue working with homeless individuals and families to connect them with community organizations that provide housing, resources, and other assistance, as needed,” said Genty. 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.