As temperatures plunge across Wilson County, a Lebanon church is turning into a lifeline overnight, offering a warm place to sleep not just for people but for their pets, too.
County officials opened a temporary, pet-friendly warming shelter Sunday night and will run it again Monday night at Faith Lutheran Church in downtown Lebanon. The shelter is aimed at anyone without safe heat during the cold snap and is stocked with cots, pillows, blankets, and meals. A free ride to the site is available by calling 615-489-9129, and volunteers can sign up to help through Volunteer Network Tennessee.
The overnight shelter will operate from 6 p.m. to 9 a.m. on both nights, according to a notice from the Wilson County Sheriff's Office.
Shelter hours, services and transport
Wilson County Emergency Management and local volunteers have repeatedly turned to churches and the county fairgrounds during recent cold snaps, setting up basic overnight spaces with meals and bedding for people trying to get out of the dangerous wind chill.
Anyone who needs a ride to the current Lebanon shelter can call 615-489-9129 for transportation assistance, as noted by WSMV.
How to get help or volunteer
People who need a warm place to stay or a ride to the site should call the county number above.
Volunteers, donors, and partner organizations are being coordinated through Volunteer Network Tennessee. Sign-ups and contact details are available on Volunteer Network Tennessee, which is helping organize supplies and staffing.
The shelter space itself is being hosted at Faith Lutheran Church in downtown Lebanon, which lists its address and contact information on its website for anyone heading there directly.
Local coverage has noted that Wilson County typically flips on warming centers when the temperature or wind chill reaches levels that can be dangerous, especially overnight. Allowing pets at some locations has been key to convincing people who live outside or in unstable housing to come indoors instead of staying out in the cold with their animals. NewsChannel5 has reported on earlier activations and the county’s pet-friendly approach.
Officials are urging residents to spread the word, especially to neighbors or community members who may not see online notices, and to keep an eye on local channels in case operating hours or locations change with the weather. Full details are available in the original announcement from the Wilson County Sheriff's Office.
