WARM Waynesboro Area Refuge Ministry

This is a rotating Thermal Shelter. It runs from November through March. It rotates between area churches, and runs from Monday to Monday. We provide a cot, a hot dinner and breakfast. Shelter opens at 6:00 pm and guests leave at 7:00 am.

WARM serves the city of Waynesboro's neediest citizens through the ministry of a thermal shelter. Our thermal shelter, a low-barrier winter emergency shelter, operates from November to March of each year. During those winter months we provide shelter, transportation, community referrals, linens, and some personal care and basic need items to homeless adults at no cost. To do so, we coordinate services with area church congregations and leaders who participate as weekly shelter sites and volunteers.

Homeless adults (18 years or older) without accompanying children may participate in the Shelter of Last Resort (thermal shelter) at anytime throughout the winter season. There are not any formal eligibility requirements except, in addition to being 18 years or older without children, guests must be respectful of WARM staff, volunteers, church sites, other guests, and the minimal shelter rules. Homeless individuals may participate by contacting Ted Perry,Thermal Shelter Manager at ted@warmwaynesnboro.org or by meeting at Basic United Methodist Church (on the corner of 5th Street and Delphine Avenue, Waynesboro, VA) each night at 6:00 pm or in front of Waynesboro Public Library at 6:05 pm. (The transportation schedule is subject to change and pickups/drop offs are generally offered for weeks that the shelter sites are not located in the downtown Waynesboro and surrounding area)

Each church that hosts the shelter provides an onsite sleeping area for WARM's guests, meals, evening volunteers, overnight volunteers, and a Church/Site Coordinator that works alongside the Thermal Shelter Manager and acts as a liaison for the church and WARM. Prior to becoming a hosting site each church is offered an onsite volunteer training provided by WARM to help ensure that each church partner is fully acclimated with the program's operation, confidentiality, and expectations. Any churches that are interested in participating with the shelter or community members who want to support the shelter's work through financial donations, food, supplies, and/or volunteering may contact Debra Burns, Executive Director at (540)324-8166 or debra@warmwaynesboro.org.