CANTON, Ohio — William Foster is spending time at the Refuge of Hope, which is one of three warming centers open in Canton.
“I came here because I didn’t want to freeze. It’s really cold out,” said Foster.
The centers opened this week to provide a warm, safe space for those in need.
“The mayor, Tom Bernabei, and his staff came up with an initiative to take care of some of our residents that might need a place to stay at night. So we collaborated with Canton Police, the fire department with a medic, and Red Cross who provided the cots and the blankets,” said Doug Foltz, the director of Canton Parks and Recreation.
People who need somewhere warm to sleep are able to go to the Edward “Peel” Coleman Community Center where they’re given a cot and blanket to sleep through the night. There are 10 cots available. Jamie Pryor is the property manager at the community center and works to make sure the sleeping area is safe and clean for guests.
“Everything is cleaned when they get up in the morning. They leave at 8 a.m. so I usually come right after that and sanitize everything so it’s ready for the next evening when they come back at 6 p.m.,” said Pryor. “We space them six feet apart like the CDC requirements.”
Though Foster has somewhere to live, he comes to the warming center for a warm space, food, and good company. He said he’s grateful the warming centers are open to those who need them.
“Thank God that it’s here. Thank love that somebody’s giving somebody else a place to sit and not burn, not freeze to death,” Foster said.
The Stark Area Regional Transit Authority is Canton’s public transportation service. SARTA is providing free rides to people who need to travel to the warming centers.
Center Locations
The Edward “Peel” Coleman Community Center
1400 Sherrick Rd. SE, Canton, OH 44707
330-489-3350
6 p.m. to 8 a.m.
Refuge of Hope
715 Second St. NE, Canton, OH 44704
330-453-1785
9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Salvation Army
420 Market Ave. South, Canton, OH 44702
330-453-0159
8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
