With a winter storm bearing down and temperatures sliding into dangerous territory, Milford is throwing open the doors at St. Mary's Church on Sunday night as an emergency warming center for anyone stuck in the cold. The pop-up shelter will start welcoming guests at 6 p.m. and stay open through Tuesday morning, giving unhoused residents, people living in vehicles, and households with no heat or frozen pipes a safe place to ride out the freeze. Organizers say they are scrambling to line up enough volunteers to cover both daytime and overnight shifts while the storm moves through the region.
How the warming center will operate
According to a Facebook post from the Police Department of Milford, Massachusetts, Pathway To A Better Life is partnering with St. Mary's to run the warming center, which will open Sunday at 6 p.m. and remain in operation until Tuesday at 7 a.m. The center is specifically intended for people facing cold-weather emergencies, including unhoused residents, individuals living in vehicles, households without heat, and anyone dealing with frozen pipes.
Volunteer shifts and signups
To keep the doors open and the coffee flowing, organizers say volunteers are needed for set shifts: 7:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m.–9:30 p.m., and overnight coverage from 9:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Potential volunteers can sign up by calling 508-922-9032 or emailing the shelter. The New England Chapel community outreach page lists that contact information along with coordination and training details.
Local context and history
Pathway To A Better Life has been running winter pop-up shelters in Milford since 2019 and typically activates when nighttime temperatures fall into the low 20s, according to prior reporting by Patch. Pathway To A Better Life's site lists St. Mary's of the Assumption at 17 Winter St. as a regular host location, and filings on ProPublica show the organization is a registered nonprofit based in Milford.
How to get help or lend a hand
Anyone who needs a warm place to stay or who wants to volunteer can call 508-922-9032 or email [email protected] for details and shift signups. Organizers say the pop-up shelter is inspected by local police, fire, and health departments and will remain open as long as weather conditions and volunteer coverage require.
