Photo Credit: Salvation Army of Texas
With actual and wind-chill temperatures expected to reach the low teens by early Tuesday of next week, the Salvation Army is offering those in need heaters and warm coats.
"The cold temperatures mixed with the potential for rain, ice, and snow can be quite dangerous; especially, for a region that is not used to that type of weather," says Lt. Timothy Israel of the Salvation Army.
These items are not just for persons experiencing homeless in the area. Anyone that is in need may come and utilize what is available.
“You have individuals who maybe have a difficult time paying for their utilities right now,” Israel says. “Or, you might have families that live in a house without adequate heating. So, there are different reasons people come here, but typically we see an increase in requests for heaters and fans when we are faced with extreme weather conditions throughout the year.”
With bitterly cold temperatures expected, the Salvation Army will also have hot cocoa and coffee available in its main office for anyone that needs a warm drink beginning Monday, provided by its Emergency Disaster Services Team. As weather patterns become more clear, other services may become available to those that need them, such as a warming station or utilization of its canteen outside of normal business hours.
“We are still facing pandemic conditions on top of a now cold weather situation. It is our utmost priority to keep those in need of services safe while also protecting our volunteers and staff," Israel says. “We will make those decisions and how to best implement them as events draw closer.”
The Salvation Army is accepting warm blankets, coats for all ages, and new heaters to help with its distribution efforts. The Salvation Army located at 2506 Cavitt Avenue in Bryan will be open Monday – Thursday from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. for collections and distributions. For more information visit salvationarmytexas.org/bryancollegestation.
