Newly-opened Lynchburg shelter helps residents escape the heat
The Refuge on Memorial offers water, showers and meals as the extreme heat is expected to continue into the weekend.
LYNCHBURG, Va. (WDBJ) - As temperatures in Lynchburg climbed above 100 degrees Thursday, The Refuge on Memorial remained the only cooling center open in the city due to the Fourth of July holiday.
The shelter officially opened earlier this week. While several other Lynchburg cooling centers opened Wednesday ahead of the heat, all but The Refuge are closed for the holiday.
Khrisna Cox, who said she spends every day at The Refuge, described the relief of stepping inside.
“It’s extremely cool in here. It’s plenty of room and space for other people to come in,” Cox said.
Case Manager Pheala Johnson said staff are prepared to meet a range of needs for anyone who comes through the door.
“We have refrigerated water and tons of cases of water so that people can come in and cool off,” Johnson said. “We’ll allow people to also just take showers and to be able to cool off that way as well.”
Johnson said visits vary in length and that the shelter does not pressure anyone to stay or leave.
“Most people just come in and stay for about an hour or two, get some water (and) cool off. We have a couple of games, we have books, and people will just come in with their families, and then they’ll head out for the day and then come back during our meal times,” Johnson said.
All services at The Refuge are free.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are provided on weekdays. The shelter is also planning to eventually have 50 beds available for overnight stays.
Cox said the shelter has already become a resource for those working to stabilize their lives.
“They’re giving you a chance to work on getting yourself together,” Cox said. “You don’t have to leave out unless you just want to. It’s like a home away from home.”
The extreme heat is expected to continue throughout the weekend, and the city’s other cooling centers will remain closed during the holiday.
The city has cooling assistance available for residents who need help obtaining air conditioning or paying their electric bill.
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