Weather crowds shelters

With temperatures in the teens, area homeless shelters are packed full as the needy retreat from the cold.

Lavond Reynolds, the assistant director of the Garden City Rescue Mission, said 55 people stayed at the Fenwick Street shelter Wednesday night, about five people above capacity.

"We're encouraging people to come in during this time," Mr. Reynolds said. "We're not a day shelter, but we're allowing people to stay in here later on until the temperature warms up."

At the Salvation Army's emergency shelter on Greene Street, Dr. Gregory Francisco said the cold weather brought in about 37 people.

He said the shelter typically operates at capacity, although the weather does play a part in how many people show up. In the late spring, attendance might dip.

"You definitely see more when it gets this cold," Dr. Francisco said.

The low temperatures this week have been the coldest on record for the Augusta area in more than a year, according to the National Weather Service.

Although space is limited, the workers at the Salvation Army shelter will use cots to expand their capacity when temperatures fall below 34 degrees or during rainy nights, according to Rebecca Wallace, the development director for the Salvation Army of Augusta.

She asked that the public donate hats, gloves, blankets and other cold-weather clothing so if the shelter runs out of room, it can give the needy items to keep them warm.

"We do end up having to turn people away because we don't have enough room for everyone that comes," Ms. Wallace said.

Reach Adam Folk at (706) 823-3339 or adam.folk@augustachronicle.com.