Buzz and Clifann Birney with Live Like Jesus Today Ministries announced that the warming shelter at the Central Kansas Dream Center, 2100 Broadway Ave., will remain open until Saturday. It is open 24 hours a day.
The shelter is located in the Anchor Room and the entry is off of Williams Street (Broadway and Williams).
The site opened last Friday morning as the latest cold snap was arriving. Initially, there were plans to keep it open until Monday. The Birenys announced the extended service with a post on Facebook.
“First of all, we want to thank the LORD for providing this shelter!!! And we want to say “THANK YOU SO MUCH, to the businesses, churches, families and individuals that have provided financial blessings, food, drinks and supplies to provide for the many!!! You are all amazing and may you continue to see the blessings of the LORD in, over and through your lives!!!”
With the weather forecast, sponsors decided to keep the shelter open. Items needed most are breakfast casseroles and burritos; dinner casseroles and crock pots of soups; and hot cups for coffee and hot chocolate.
Monetary donations can be brought in, or the Dream Center website (https://www.centralksdreamcenter.org/) accepts PayPal; just make sure to designate that a donation is to the warming shelter. For more information email centralksdc@gmail.com or call 620-282-4014.
Sleeping bags available
In 2024, Sandra Burton with Sandra Burton Massage worked with Live Like Jesus Today Ministries to launch the Rest Easy Sleeping Bag Project. Her goal was to provide 1,000 warm sleeping bags to homeless people in central Kansas.
At last week’s Great Bend Chamber of Commerce Coffee, Burton said sleeping bags are still available. Enquire at the warming shelter.
Crisis counseling
The Disaster Distress Helpline (DDH), at 800-985-5990, can provide immediate counseling to anyone experiencing emotional distress in the extreme cold and a winter storm that has affected a large portion of the country. A storm like this can have an enormous impact on people, including first responders, eyewitnesses, and even those who watch related media reports on television.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration sponsors the Disaster Distress Helpline, which is also available at www.samhsa.gov/ddh. It immediately connects callers to trained and caring professionals from the nearest crisis counseling center in the nationwide network of centers. Counselors are available 24/7 and trained to offer support to people who may be experiencing a range of symptoms.
Helpline staff provide confidential counseling, referrals and other needed support services. Spanish speakers can press “2” for bilingual support. Callers can also connect with counselors in more than 100 other languages via third-party interpretation services by indicating their preferred language to the responding counselor. For Deaf and Hard of Hearing ASL Callers, text or call the DDH at 800-985-5990 using your preferred Relay provider.
Weekend forecast
The National Weather Service forecast for the Great Bend area calls for a 20% chance of snow before noon on Thursday, and a low around 11 degrees. Friday also has a 20% chance of snow and a low around 11.
Saturday will be partly sunny, with a high near 23; mostly cloudy Saturday night with a low around 12.
Sunday and Monday should be mostly sunny, with highs near 42 and 46, respectively, but Sunday night’s low will be around 19 degrees.
