DeKalb church overnight warming center to open Saturday

DeKALB – In time for possible snowfall and frigid temperatures this weekend, a DeKalb church is opening its overnight warming center ahead of schedule, part of a plan to offer free and welcoming accommodations to those in need.

Organizer Dan Kenney said the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of DeKalb, 158 N. Fourth St., will open its doors starting at 5:30 p.m. Saturday. The center will be open nightly. The church also will offer free hot meals to all, providing a warm and safe place for community members during the winter months, according to a news release.

Volunteers still are needed to help run the overnight shelter, which relies on them to remain operational.

“We are incredibly grateful for the support so far, but we cannot operate without volunteers,” co-organizer Ash Rootes said in a news release.

Volunteer shifts are from 5 to 9 p.m., which includes welcoming guests and helping with dinner and cleanup; overnight awake shifts to monitor guests' safety from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. and 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. ; and 5 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., which includes setting out breakfast, waking guests and helping with cleanup. Organizers ask anyone wishing to volunteer to contact Rootes at 847-637-7339 or ashletrootes@gmail.com.

The shelter also welcomes donated items to help provide accommodations to those who use the center. Breakfast items needed include coffee grounds, creamer and juice. Sack lunch items needed include lunch meat, bread and other nonperishable items.

[ Warming centers open in DeKalb County ]

The DeKalb County area could see snow starting Thursday night, according to the National Weather Service. Temperatures also are expected to drop, with wind chill values reaching zero by Thursday night, forecasts show.

It’s a significant changeup from Christmas Day temperatures, which reached almost 50 degrees. Thursday has a 40% chance of snow, with highs near 31 and low temperatures near 14. Wind gusts could reach 20 mph, according to the NWS. Friday’s high is expected to reach about 21, and the low by night is expected to be 7 degrees. Saturday’s high will be near 19, and another chance of snow could come by Sunday and Monday, forecasts show.

Where else to go for free warming center in DeKalb County

In DeKalb

• Hope Haven, 1145 Rushmoore Drive. Call 815-787-4567. Open 24 hours daily.
• DeKalb Public Library, 309 Oak St. Call 815-756-956. Weekly hours are from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
• DeKalb Salvation Army Community Center, 830 Grove St. Call 815-756-4308. Weekly hours are from 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Thursday and from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday. Closed Friday through Sunday.
• Christ Community Church, 2350 Pride Ave. Call 815-787-6161. Hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Closed Friday through Sunday. Only open when temperatures are 20 degrees or lower.

Under city of DeKalb Municipal Code, landlords must provide heat to residential buildings to maintain a room temperature of at least 68 degrees between 6:30 a.m. and 10:30 p.m., and at least 62 degrees at other times.

To request a well-being check for someone who may be suffering from extreme weather, call 815-748-8400.

To report inadequate heat in a residential building, call 815-748-2070 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. After hours, call 815-739-0745.

In Sycamore

• Sycamore Police Department, 535 DeKalb Ave., open 24 hours every day.
• Sycamore Public Library, 103 E. State St., open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.

In Genoa

• Genoa Police Department, 333 E. First St. To contact the nonemergency police department for issues such as main breaks, call 815-784-6633. For emergencies, dial 911.