This week’s extreme cold weather has Akron’s warming centers and overnight shelters busy and seeking volunteers.
The Haven of Rest Ministries shelter is averaging between 230 and 240 people per night, compared to its usual 162, according to the Rev. Jeff Kaiser, the nonprofit’s chief executive officer.
The Akron Emergency Overnight Warming Center has been accommodating between 75 and 80 people per night this past week, with 80 being its capacity, Peter Maurin Center Director David Churbock said.
The Summit Lake Community Center also hosted 33 people Sunday, Jan. 25, and about 20 during the morning of Monday, Jan. 26, according to Stephanie Marsh, director of communications for the City of Akron.
The National Weather Service warns that frigid temperatures will continue through the weekend, with wind chills expected to fall to -10 to -20 degrees several nights.
Need for volunteers and donations
The extended cold spell is putting a strain on the area’s emergency shelter programs.
“Volunteers are the lifeblood of this warming center,” Churbock said. “Looking at the long-term weather forecast, it looks like we’re going to be open, like, 30 days in a row, and that’s going to take a toll on volunteers.”
The community already has been helping by donating clothing and food, as well as volunteering, Kaiser said.
But more help is always needed, particularly during this prolonged deep freeze.
Churbock said the Emergency Overnight Warming Center is a volunteer endeavor, except for paid security. It is a community partnership among the Peter Maurin Center, Summit County Continuum of Care and Community Support Services, with partial funding provided by the City of Akron.
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The center needs roughly 10 to 12 volunteers in the evenings and eight to 10 in the mornings. Night shifts go from 6:15 p.m. to 9:15 p.m., and morning shifts last from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
On-the-job training is available, and nobody needs to be experienced to come help. Volunteers can sign up for shifts at akronemergencyshelter.org/volunteer–donate through a SignUpGenius form.
The form also lists requested donations and includes a link for monetary donations.
The Emergency Overnight Warming Center currently is seeking one-day Metro bus pass donations, as well as winter boots, hoodies, men’s and women’s blue jeans, hand warmers and winter gloves.
Clean items can be dropped off 10 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Tuesdays and Saturdays or 11 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Sundays at the Peter Maurin Center, 1096 S. Main St., Akron.
“We’re just asking for people who care about getting involved and wanting to make a difference,” Churbock said.
For more information about how to volunteer or donate to Haven of Rest, visit https://havenofrest.org/
What Haven of Rest, Akron warming centers offer
Paul DeFelice, 55, has been staying at the Haven of Rest since November.
He used to drive people to their doctor appointments for a living, but when his vehicle gave out, he lost his job and could no longer pay his rent. This is his first time staying at a shelter.
“It’s been more of a blessing than I ever thought it was going to be,” DeFelice said.
He’s been making use of the support that Haven of Rest provides, including three meals per day, Bible study sessions, counseling and help getting doctor appointments.
Right now, he’s dealing with multiple health issues. Once he becomes medically fit, he said he’s looking to “try and serve the Lord as best I can, but at the same time, just get a job. Get back into civilization.”
James, who did not share his last name, also is staying at Haven of Rest through a work-agreement program.
In May 2024, he traveled to Ohio from Colorado Springs and was in a severe car accident. He had to take a year off from working at his job at Amazon and became unhoused. He said he kept hitting dead ends while trying to find help.
“God brought me here,” he said. “This is it, this is the last resort … There’s no organization like the Haven that helps guys like me.”
James is working at Amazon again, and his ultimate goal is to heal and get his life back.
“If it wasn’t for the Haven, there’d be a lot of body bags, especially this time of year,” he said. “It’s not easy — this is rough out here, this weather will kill you … You only can make it so long out here in the streets.”
At Haven of Rest Ministries, Kaiser said the shelter, located at 175 E. Market St. in Akron’s University Park neighborhood, offers people a place to sleep, as well as showers, clothing and meals. It’s open 24 hours a day, seven days a week year-round.
Churbock said the Emergency Overnight Warming Center has security officers who are present all night. It offers warm meals and drinks, hand warmers and seasonally appropriate clothing for those who do not have it.
The center also provides an all-day bus pass to use to go to meal sites, the library, the mall or anywhere else to stay warm.
The center is located at 111 E. Voris St. and opens from 7 p.m. to 8 a.m. whenever the overnight temperature is 25 degrees or lower. An alert system is available to receive an email when the center plans to open.
Currently, the center is open through Tuesday, Feb. 3.
“There’s hundreds of vulnerable, unsheltered people in the metropolitan Akron area, and we just try to protect them,” Churbock said.
The Summit Lake Community Center is operating under extended hours from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Sunday, Feb.1. It frequently receives people who come directly from the Emergency Overnight Warming Center. It is located at 380 W. Crosier St.
The City of Akron also has an alert system for warming center activations, among other city news.
Beacon Journal visual journalist Mike Cardew contributed to this report.
Lauren Cohen is a community reporting intern for the Akron Beacon Journal and Signal Akron. The position is funded through a grant from the Knight Foundation, which is a financial supporter of Signal Akron.