Local homeless shelters have been packed this week as temperatures in the Augusta area dipped below freezing.

Rob Frary, who works the front desk for the Garden City Rescue Mission, said people have been sleeping in its front lobby to stay warm.

"Last night -- because it was so cold -- we took anybody we could, even if they had to sleep on the floor," Mr. Frary said Wednesday.

Wednesday morning's low temperature of 22 degrees at Bush Field was a record for the date, according to Dan Miller, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in West Columbia, S.C. The previous record was 25 degrees, set in 1959. This morning's lows were expected to be in the upper 20s, he said.

By 10 p.m. Wednesday, Lavond Reynolds, an assistant director for the Garden City Rescue Mission, said his shelter was housing 64 people -- three of whom were women. He said that's 12 more than what the shelter averages. The shelter has 52 metal frame beds for visitors. For visitors beyond that, just mattresses are used.

Mr. Reynolds said the shelter's capacity is 100.

"The cold weather has brought more people in," he said, but added a small percentage of homeless, no more than 20, would likely rough out the cold in such areas as beneath the Fifth Street or 13th Street bridges.

Mr. Reynolds said his Fenwick Street shelter welcomes donations. The Salvation Army on Greene Street also needs warm clothing and blankets for those who don't make it inside, Development Director Rebecca Wallace said Wednesday. Even with 10 additional cots, the shelter reached capacity Tuesday night.

Staff Writer Preston Sparks contributed to this article

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