Advocates for people experiencing homelessness are looking for supplies and volunteer help as snow and dangerously cold wind chills approach Lawrence.
The wind chills in the forecast could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes, according to the National Weather Service in Topeka. Lawrence is expected to see wind chill indices close to 30 degrees below 0° from late Thursday through early Friday, the NWS forecast showed as of Wednesday morning.
The city is hoping to keep its Winter Emergency Shelter open around the clock for the duration of the cold snap, but it still needs volunteers for several shifts over the next few days. The WES is usually open from 8 p.m. through 7 a.m. nightly for community members who need a warm place to sleep, but the building then closes before reopening for its daytime hours. Read more about the plans at this link, and sign up for a volunteer shift at this link.
Supplies are needed for people staying outside and for people who stay at the Winter Emergency Shelter, which is at the Community Building, 115 W. 11th St.
Jenn Wolsey, homeless programs coordinator for the City of Lawrence, said pressing needs include winter gear, such as gloves, wool hats, wool socks in all adult sizes, and HotHands hand and foot warmers.
The city is also seeking individually packaged snacks, such as protein bars, trail mix and crackers for people staying at the WES, according to a Tuesday news release.
Throughout the cold snap, Wolsey will be distributing supplies and checking on folks at encampments in town in addition to the North Lawrence support site, she said.
Supplies can be dropped off at the Planning and Development Services office at 1 Riverfront Plaza, Suite 320, during business hours, Wolsey said, or at the Winter Emergency Shelter from 7 to 11 p.m. nightly.
Donations of firewood and propane can be dropped off at the campsite in North Lawrence, Wolsey said. The site is located behind Johnny’s Tavern.
The Lawrence City Commission at its meeting Tuesday approved a resolution to declare a health and safety emergency to allow continuous use of the WES until 7 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 27. The resolution also lifts the 75-person cap to allow up to 150 people to stay there.
Some residents of the North Lawrence campsite told us previously that they don’t want to stay at the WES for various reasons, including that they would be separated from their pets and that they’d be sleeping next to strangers with no separation between them.
Wolsey said she plans to continue encouraging people to go inside if it gets too bad outside. She said it is easier now that she can tell people they won’t lose their space or their tent at the support site if they do go inside.
Other supplies that would be helpful include:
• Wool face scarves and covers
• Bib overalls (all adult sizes)
• Ear warmers
• Sleeping bags
• Blankets
• Tents
• Tarps
• Propane-operated Little Buddy heaters
• Lighters
• Bottled water
• Snacks
If you know of other specific needs and/or have suggestions of ways to contribute, please drop us an email at hello (at) lawrencekstimes (dot) com.
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Mackenzie Clark (she/her), reporter/founder of The Lawrence Times, can be reached at mclark (at) lawrencekstimes (dot) com. Read more of her work for the Times here. Check out her staff bio here.
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