Community Health Foundation, Attucks Community Center, and United Way of North Central Oklahoma Agencies Finalize Plans For Extreme Weather Shelter

As the chilling winter approaches, the United Way of North Central Oklahoma, Attucks Community Center, Community Health Foundation, Cimarron Transit, and local United Way agencies, Peachtree Landing, Survivor Resource Network, and NERA, met on Wednesday, the 16^th, to ensure that no one in our community must endure the cold without a safe and warm place to stay.

United Way of North Central Oklahoma and its partners are proud of their longstanding commitment to transparency, accountability, and excellence in service delivery. “As established United Way agencies, we have consistently demonstrated our dedication to responsibly managing donor contributions and ensuring that funds are used effectively to meet the needs of our community,” said Tara Tyler, Executive Director of Survivor Resource Network.

This initiative provides vital shelter and services during the coldest nights of the season. The shelter will be activated when the forecasted local temperatures drop to 15 degrees or below (air temperature or wind chill) for more than 48 hours. Attucks Community Center will again host the shelter. Notification of activation will be posted in various locations and via radio, print, and social media. Cimarron Transit will pick people up in the parking lot of First Christian Church at 5th and Cleaveland following Friendship Feast. Overnight security, made available through the support of the Community Health Foundation, will ensure the low-barrier shelter remains safe for all involved. NERA will provide Day Bags in the morning, and Cimarron Transit will pick up guests at 9:30 am to take them downtown.

How You Can Help:

• Financial Donations: Contributions to cover shelter and service costs can be made through the Community Health Foundation, Friendship Feast, Attucks Community Center, Peachtree Landing, or United Way of North Central Oklahoma.
• Donations of Essential Items: The shelter requires new hats, gloves, socks, and hand warmers. Trash bags, Ice Melt, sanitary items, hygiene products, and cleaning supplies are also needed. Donations can be dropped off at United Way of North Central Oklahoma or Peachtree Landing.
• Donations for Day Bags at NERA – Sacks, soft food items, proteins, and pop-top cans
• Volunteers to set up and tear down at Attucks Community Center!

Through the collective efforts of local partners, this shelter will provide warmth, safety, and dignity to those in need. Together, we can help make this winter a little less cold for our most vulnerable neighbors.

For more information for you or your group to get involved, don’t hesitate to get in touch with United Way of North Central Oklahoma at 765-2476