While people in central Illinois dug out from heavy snowfall, the state’s southernmost counties were covered in ice and fallen trees causing power losses, leaving many without shelter. That’s when local churches came to the rescue.
As snow fell and temperatures dropped on January 4-5, the City of Harrisburg asked if Dorrisville Baptist Church could serve as a warming center after its own center quickly filled to capacity at 30 people. With a reported 60,000 customers in the area without electricity, the need was great.
In his second week as pastor, Carlton Binkley called members together to set up the church’s multi-purpose room as warming center. “We’ve got a generator running, we’ve got showers, we’ve got cots, and we’ve got a working kitchen,” Binkley alerted the community in a Facebook video. “If you know people who are without power, who are without any kind of water, or any kind of heat, they can come in and shelter in place here.”
The church had installed the generator and showers, and purchased some cots, a few years ago in case of an emergency. Then, thanks to the American Red Cross and generous donations, additional cots were donated allowing the church to provide sleeping accommodations for up to 150.
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EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Lisa Misner and originally published by the Illinois Baptist.
