The Sheltering Tree cold weather shelter will be open Thursday night, closed Friday, and reopen Saturday through Monday as temperatures are expected to drop below 40 degrees over the weekend.
The shelter has been averaging 28 guests per night during the recent cold weather stretch, according to The Sheltering Tree. The facility serves not only those experiencing homelessness but anyone who is without heat in their home.
The National Weather Service is predicting temperatures will fall below 40 degrees during the overnight hours Saturday through Monday, which is the threshold that triggers the opening of the cold-weather shelter.
The shelter operates at the Rock Transformation Center, located at 2200 N. State Street. It opens at 5 p.m. each night and closes at 8 a.m. the following morning.
Flagler County provides free bus transportation to the shelter. The single-bus schedule begins at 4 p.m. at McDonald’s at Old Kings Road South and State Road 100, picking up passengers at the dirt road on the east side. The bus then stops at the Circle K at Kingswood and Old Kings Road at 4:40 p.m., followed by the Dollar Tree parking lot behind Carrabba’s at 4:50 p.m. The next stop is the Palm Coast Main Branch Library at the northwest corner of Palm Coast Parkway and Belle Terre Parkway at 4:55 p.m. The final stops are the Bunnell Free Clinic at 703 Moody Boulevard and Bridges United Methodist Church at 205 N. Pine Street in Bunnell, both at 5 p.m. due to their close proximity.
The Sheltering Tree operates under the umbrella of the Flagler County Family Assistance Center. It is a non-denominational civic organization created to provide cold weather sheltering during cold nights in Flagler County. Those with questions can call 386-437-3258.
Flagler County Fire Rescue is reminding residents to stay safe while keeping warm. The agency advises residents to never use an oven to heat their home. All fuel-burning equipment should be vented to the outside to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Fireplaces should be screened to contain sparks. Portable space heaters should be kept at least three feet away from anything that can burn and should be turned off when leaving the room or going to bed.
