March 18, 2024 – The Sheltering Tree will open its cold-weather shelter on Tuesday night at the Rock Transformation Center (formerly Church on the Rock) not only for the homeless, but for anyone who is without heat.
The National Weather Service is predicting temperatures in the high 30s during the overnight hours on March 19. The criteria for opening the cold-weather shelter is based on overnight temperatures that drop below 40 degrees.
“We keep getting these cold snaps – unusual for March – and our message remains the same. We urge anyone without adequate housing or adequate heat to come to the cold-weather shelter,” said Health and Human Services Director Joseph Hegedus. “The Sheltering Tree and the Rock Transformation Center will provide cots and meals. It’s March in Florida, but don’t let that prevent you from coming to the cold weather shelter.”
The county will provide bus transportation along two routes, following the schedules below:
East side of the county
- Dollar General at Publix Town Center on Market Avenue (leads to Dollar General), 3:30 p.m.
- McDonald’s at Old Kings Road South and State Road 100 at the dirt road on the east side, 4 p.m.
- Dollar Tree behind Carrabba’s in the Dollar Tree Parking lot, 4:30 p.m.
- Palm Coast Main Branch Library, northwest corner of Palm Coast Parkway and Belle Terre Parkway, 4:45 p.m.
West side of the county
- Dollar General at County Road 305 and Canal Avenue in Daytona North, 4 p.m.
- Bunnell Free Clinic, 703 Moody Boulevard, 4:30 p.m.
- First United Methodist Church in Bunnell, 205 N. Pine Street, 4:30 p.m. (listed as the same pick-up time because of the close proximity)
The Rock Transformation Center is located at 2200 N. State Street. The cold-weather shelter will open at 5 p.m. and will close at 8 a.m. the following day.
The Sheltering Tree, 386-437-3258, is under the umbrella of the Flagler County Family Assistance Center and is a non-denominational civic organization that was created to provide cold-weather sheltering during cold nights in Flagler County.
Weather and heat safety preparedness tips from Flagler County Emergency Management and Fire Rescue include:
- Subscribe to Alert Flagler www.FlaglerCounty.gov/AlertFlagler
- Never use the oven to heat the home
- All fuel-burning equipment should be vented to the outside to avoid carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning
- Screen fireplaces to contain sparks
- Portable space heaters should be kept 3-feet away from anything that can burn
- Turn off portable heaters when leaving the room or going to bed
Follow Flagler County Government on Facebook: www.facebook.com/FlaglerCountyGovernment.
