Faith community, United Way discuss warming centers during Hannibal Church Leader Nonprofit Tour

HANNIBAL, Mo. — An overnight warming center for those in need was a central topic of discussion at the recent Hannibal Church Leader Nonprofit Tour, hosted by United Way of the Mark Twain Area. Eleven local church leaders spent the morning visiting and learning about several United Way Community Impact Agencies.

Hannibal Police Chief Jacob Nacke addressed the group about what will soon become an urgent need. At the height of winter, many individuals lack a home or adequate heating in their residence. Nacke, who also serves as Hannibal’s Director of Emergency Management, hopes to see area churches join together with agencies to provide warm shelter options for the Hannibal community.

Not only do un-housed community members need a warm place to stay, families often stay in homes where their utilities are shut off and/or their furnaces break — leaving those families without a warm, safe place. Not all families can stay with friends or other family members.

In a press release, Necke said, “We’d like to be able to work with churches or other organizations that could serve as designated emergency shelter locations, but we don’t currently have a system in place.”

Last winter in early January, Nacke put out a plea on the Hannibal Emergency Management Facebook page for civic or faith-based organizations to open as warming centers during an extended time of extremely cold temperatures. The need for an overnight warming center was known by Stephanie Himmel, youth pastor at First Christian Church who previously worked for several local social service agencies.

This post led Himmel to approach leadership at First Christian Church, centrally located on Broadway, to open as an overnight warming center. Their church leadership said yes and opened their doors to provide a solution for people in need. Staffed by church members, the warming center operated overnight on nine occasions when the temperatures were dangerously cold. They averaged six people staying at the church per night. Some of these people were un-housed, while others had complications with the heat in their homes.

“We had an advantage for staffing because a good portion of our folks are retired. So we were able to manage it,” Himmel said. “When we shared our plans, we received great support from our congregation and the community.”

Himmel noted the overnight warming center was a community effort, with hot meals brought in and air mattresses provided by Mission 180 ministry. There were always at least three volunteers on site providing adequate staffing, and more people were willing to volunteer.

The hours the center was needed presented a challenge for First Christian Church. The church also houses a daycare that opens at 6:30 a.m. and closes at 5:30 p.m. Their overnight warming center, therefore, operated from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., which meant occupants faced bitterly cold temperatures early in the morning. Himmel noted that though it was a solution, it wasn’t the best solution for guests who stayed overnight as ultimately they had to wake people to have them out the door when it was at times the coldest.

Leadership with the church took shelter guests to McDonald’s in Hannibal and provided breakfast, where they could stay until 8 a.m., when the Admiral Coontz Recreation Center opened.

Nacke expressed gratitude for First Christian Church and others who quickly responded.

Himmel wants to see a solution where more dignity is provided for those needing this overnight warming center.

A discussion was held to see if a different church would open its doors this winter to act as an overnight warming center with volunteers and support from many area churches. Challenges such as fear and insurance liability keep churches hesitant from doing this type of ministry.

“We are the body of Christ here in Hannibal, and whether we agree or disagree on certain areas of doctrine or theology, we all share a command to love and serve our neighbor,” Himmel said.

There was a consensus that one church opening its doors with a timeline closer to 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. would provide more dignity and be a better solution for people and families. Denise Damron, executive director of the United Way of the Mark Twain Area, shared that agencies can provide support for people starting at 8 a.m., including breakfast.

Nacke encouraged local church leaders to consider various ways to assist during extreme weather this winter. Not all support requires opening an overnight warming facility. Other contributions could be:

• Hosting breakfast at their church
• Volunteering for a shift at a warming center location
• Providing transportation for those needing a warming center
• Supplying food items or preparing hot meals
• Meeting other warming center needs as they arise

Other community needs were discussed. The work of other United Way impact agencies — including The Child Advocacy Center, the Women and Children’s House of Harvest Outreach Ministries, the Loaves and Fishes meal ministry through Harvest Outreach Ministries, AVENUES and Coyote Hill — was highlighted.

Damron is hopeful about the connections formed.

“Connections were made, numbers and emails were exchanged and ideas were shared,” she said. “It was a great opportunity for the faith community and local organizations to find ways to rally together and meet needs in the community.”

For more information on assisting with overnight warming center efforts or to learn more about the need, contact Damron at director@unitedwaymta.org or 573-221-2761.