Correction:
The hours and days of operation for the emergency overnight shelter on East Voris Street were corrected. Shelter Care's name was corrected and additional location information was added.
Although temperatures are expected to rise after Saturday, it’s been a cold week for Akron, and, as a result, the city has seen an increased need for shelters.
A winter storm warning remains in effect through early Saturday morning, with the wind chill expected to hit from minus 5 to minus 15 degrees and possibly heavy snow expected through Friday, according to the National Weather Service.
On Monday, the emergency overnight shelter on East Voris Street had 55 visitors. By Tuesday, that number had reached a record-high 71, said Mar-quetta Boddie, the executive director of Summit County Continuum of Care.
Haven of Rest Ministries on East Market Street typically hosts about 130 people each day, but had 167 visitors on Wednesday, said the Rev. Jeff Kaiser.
The shelter is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and provides visitors with shower access and three meals a day.
Where to find shelter in Akron
To accommodate private events scheduled for Saturday at Summit Lake Community Center, which the city opened as a warming center, the city is extending hours at Mason Park Community Center instead.
Summit Lake Community Center will still be open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Friday. Mason Park Community Center, located at 700 E. Exchange St., will be open Saturday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The emergency overnight shelter on Voris will remain open from 7 p.m. to 8 a.m. through Monday, Jan. 22.
All other Akron community centers will be open during their regular hours.
Shelter Care’s Street Outreach Service, located at 39 W. Cuyahoga Falls Ave., (Akron, 44310) is available for youths ages 16-24. The center is open Mondays from noon to 4 p.m., Tuesdays noon to 8 p.m., Wednesdays and Thursdays 1 to 8 p.m., Fridays by appointment and Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m.
The Bayard Rustin LGBTQ+ Resource Center, located at 652 W. Exchange St., is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
How to help Akron shelters
The biggest cost for emergency overnight shelter is security, Boddie said, so donations toward security made through the Peter Maurin Center, which helps sponsor the emergency overnight shelter, are helpful but not the only way to contribute.
“There’s a lot of needs that are not always monetary, they’re in-kind or sweat equity,” Boddie said.
The Peter Maurin Center needs new or gently used winter wear, including men’s and women’s winter boots, men’s and women’s underwear, thermal underwear, jackets and coats, sweatshirts, scarves, gloves, hats, earmuffs and snow clothes.
People interested in supporting the shelters are also encouraged to donate food and time. The shelter has a sign-up for volunteer medical professionals, cooks, servers and guest assistance.
Kaiser said the best things for people to donate right now are winter coats and winter hats, as well as canned food.
