January 18, 2023 4:00 p.m. 

Volunteers are needed to open the Roseburg Warming Center starting Thursday night.

A City of Roseburg release said organizers hope to have it open through Sunday to offer overnight shelter to those who are unhoused.

Check in will begin at 6:00 p.m. with 60 cots available for guests and volunteers. Help is needed for all shifts. The center is at the Roseburg Senior Center at 1614 Southeast Stephens Street.

National Weather Service forecasts currently call for overnight lows in the upper 20s to low 30’s except for Saturday, which is predicted to be in the mid-30s with a slight chance of showers.

Organizer Kimetha Stallings of Onward Roseburg said, “I realize that some of those temperature forecasts are a little bit higher. These guys need a break. They’ve been out here in the cold and wet for three weeks now”. Stallings said she has to wait a few more days to see next week’s forecast and determine if the temporary shelter can open for additional nights.

The senior center will provide a free shuttle to make one circuit around town to pick up guests between about 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. and then operate again in the morning to drive people back to the same locations. Unhoused individuals can arrive any time during the night. A cot, blanket and pillow plus a hot dinner and breakfast are provided to anyone staying the night. Guests can stay until 8:00 a.m. in the morning.

Stallings needs volunteers to cover these shifts:

*Evenings from 6:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.

*Overnight from 12:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m.

*Breakfast time from 4:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.

Those interested can sign up by commenting on the Facebook post about the opening at: https://www.facebook.com/Warming.Center.Onward/. Stallings will seek laundry-day volunteers later.