As temperatures in Utah plummet, local warming centers in Cache County and the Uintah Basin are calling for community support to ensure they can provide shelter and resources for individuals experiencing homelessness. These centers play a critical role in offering warmth and safety during the harsh winter months, but they heavily rely on volunteers to keep their doors open. In Logan, Utah, St. John’s Episcopal Church has become a lifeline for those in need. Every night from 7 p.m. to 8 a.m., the church opens its doors to provide a warm place to sleep, as well as meals, clothing, laundry services, and hygiene supplies. Stephanie Allred, a dedicated volunteer at the William A. Burnard (WAB) Warming Center, has been actively involved since its inception four winters ago. "I want them to know that there are people who care about them enough to know their name, and enough to care about where they're at," she said, emphasizing the importance of community support for those facing homelessness. The WAB Warming Center has seen significant demand over the past three years, assisting over 400 individuals, with approximately 70 percent hailing from the Bear River area. Megan Leatham, a case manager at the center, noted, "All of our current volunteers, we couldn't run without. They are truly the glue that holds this whole organization together." To maintain operations, the center needs more than 50 volunteers each week, including both overnight monitors and support staff. While they have enough volunteers currently, the number is still lower than last year, and with increasing needs, they are exploring options to expand their facilities. The center has reached its capacity in its current location and is considering moving to an upstairs room to accommodate more individuals. However, this plan requires additional staffing and volunteers. Leatham stated, "The demand is so overwhelming. And this is the first time that I've honestly been concerned that I may have to turn somebody away on a dangerously cold night." For those interested in helping, more information can be found at wabwarmingcenter.org. In response to the pressing need for warming centers, a new initiative has emerged in the Uintah Basin. Volunteers in the area are working to establish their own warming center, particularly for residents in Roosevelt, Vernal, and Duchesne. Lindsey Garlick, a co-founder of the Heart of the Basin Warming Center, explained that homelessness in the Uintah Basin often looks different from that in other regions. "You don’t have a lot of people sitting on the streets and panhandling. You have people couch surfing and bunking up with friends and neighbors, living in trailers that are probably uninhabitable," she said. Garlick, who also serves as a victim services advocate with the Duchesne County Sheriff’s Office, highlighted the urgent need for safe and warm spaces for individuals and families during the winter months. The Heart of the Basin Warming Center has partnered with the Kingsbury Community United Church of Christ in Vernal to provide shelter for around 15 individuals each night. However, Garlick noted that the center currently lacks sufficient volunteers, particularly for the overnight shifts. "We don’t have enough volunteers today signed up," she said. "As of today, we’ve got enough volunteers to be open for all shifts during the first week, but we need help staffing the second week and beyond." The center is set to have its ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, marking its official opening, but the future of its operations hinges on community involvement. Interested parties can learn more and find ways to contribute at heartofthebasin.org. Both warming centers serve as crucial resources for their communities, and the organizers hope that more local residents will step up to help. "It would be difficult to find a more meaningful, hands-on, volunteering, life-changing experience," Allred remarked about the impact of volunteering. As winter continues to take hold in Utah, the need for community support becomes increasingly vital to ensure that those experiencing homelessness have access to safe and warm shelter. The collaboration between these centers and the local community illustrates the power of collective action in addressing pressing social issues, reminding us all of the importance of compassion and support during times of hardship.