The Sheltering Tree adds Thursday night as freezing temperatures persist
The Sheltering Tree announced Monday morning that it will extend cold-weather shelter operations through Thursday night as low temperatures are expected to continue into the new year.
The shelter, located at the Rock Transformation Center at 2200 N. State Street (formerly Church on the Rock), will now be open tonight, tomorrow night, and Thursday night. The facility serves not only individuals experiencing homelessness but also anyone who does not have heat in their home. The shelter opens at 5 p.m. each evening and closes at 8 a.m. the following morning.
The National Weather Service has predicted temperatures will fall below 40 degrees during overnight hours from tonight through early Friday morning, meeting the criteria that triggers the opening of the cold weather shelter.
Flagler County will provide free bus transportation to help residents reach the shelter, with different schedules for Tuesday and Wednesday compared to Thursday.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, pickups on the east side of the county will occur at the Dollar General at Publix Town Center on Market Avenue at 3:30 p.m., McDonald’s at Old Kings Road South and State Road 100 at 4 p.m., Dollar Tree behind Carrabba’s at 4:30 p.m., and the Palm Coast Main Branch Library at 4:45 p.m. On the west side, the bus will stop at Dollar General at County Road 305 and Canal Avenue in Daytona North at 4 p.m., and both the Bunnell Free Clinic at 703 Moody Boulevard and Bridges United Methodist Church at 205 N. Pine Street in Bunnell at 4:30 p.m.
On Thursday, January 1, a modified schedule will be in effect. Pickups will take place at McDonald’s at Old Kings Road South and State Road 100 at 4 p.m., Circle K at Kingswood and Old Kings Road at 4:40 p.m., Dollar Tree behind Carrabba’s at 4:50 p.m., Palm Coast Main Branch Library at 4:50 p.m., and First United Methodist Church at 2200 N. State Street in Bunnell at 5 p.m.
The Sheltering Tree operates under the Flagler County Family Assistance Center as a non-denominational civic organization created to provide shelter during cold nights in Flagler County. Residents can contact the organization at 386-437-3258 for more information.
Flagler County Fire Rescue has issued safety reminders for residents heating their homes. Officials warn against using ovens to heat a home and advise that all fuel-burning equipment be vented to the outside to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. Fireplaces should be screened to contain sparks, and portable space heaters should be kept at least three feet away from anything that can burn. Residents should turn off portable heaters when leaving a room or going to sleep.
