Help to beat the heat

Thoughts often turn to the unhoused in our community during frigid days, but the dog days of summer can be just as dangerous for those without proper shelter.

With temperatures in the 90s and heat indexes of well over 100, local groups are offering relief from the heat for those in need. HOME - Homeless Of McMinnville Effort, First United Methodist Church and Matthew 25 Ministries are providing some relief.

“We are offering cooling centers for men and women until Saturday morning at 8 a.m. when we’re due to come out of the danger zone of heat,” HOME Executive Director Sheila Fann told the Main Street Journal. “There is also a cooling station at the outreach building at First United Methodist Church. They have water in a cooler there. We took styrofoam coolers and stock them with frozen bottles of water. We hope to restock it daily the next several days.

‘We appreciate the partnership of First United Methodist Church and Matthew 25 because it takes a village. Currently we have 23 adults and one child in emergency shelter or transitional living. Our hotline is 7 days a week and it's operated by volunteers whom we love so very much because they are giving of themselves everyday to answer those calls. We receive, on average, about two to three calls a day. So when these times hit our hats really go off to those volunteers.”

For more information or for help for you or someone you know, call the HOME hotline at (931) 668-0702 or Matthew 25 Ministries at (865) 291-2805.