FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Juan Huerta, City of Springfield 789-2270

November 7, 2017 Erica Smith, Helping Hands of Springfield 416-5510

2017-2018 Winter Warming Center to open November 13

Community, media invited to an Open House on Wednesday, November 8

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. The City of Springfield and Helping Hands of Springfield announced today that
the 2017-2018 Winter Warming Center (1015 E. Madison St. Springfield) will open for clients at 6
p.m. on Sunday, November 12, 2017. The temporary shelter operates annually from mid-November
to late March to provide shelter during the coldest weather. Approximately 40-60 men and women
stay at the shelter each night.

A preview open house will be on Wednesday, November 8 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Winter
Warming Center. The media, representatives from the City of Springfield and Helping Hands of
Springfield, as well as community volunteers are invited to tour the renovated building and learn
more about the Winter Warming Center.

The City partners with Helping Hands of Springfield to operate the Winter Warming Center (WWC).
The Center is open nightly at 6 p.m., and community volunteers provide a warm meal. Guests can
stay overnight until 7 a.m.

The City of Springfield is proud of all the work that has been done to provide a safe, comfortable
place for people to stay, said Juan Huerta, director of community relations for the City of
Springfield. We know the coldest months are especially dangerous for our neighbors who are
homeless.

We depend on a caring, competent staff and the generosity of our community to operate the
Winter Warming Center, said Erica Smith, shelter director of Helping Hands. The opening of the
Winter Warming Center coincides with National Hunger and Homelessness Week. Its important for
everyone to be aware that homelessness is an issue 365 days a year, and know how to be a part of
the effort to help.

Community members or groups that want to contribute to the Winter Warming Center can sign up
to prepare and serve a nightly meal through Meal Train (www.mealtrain.com/trains/59e93y), or
donate supplies. A wish list is available at www.helpinghandsofspringfield.org.

PHOTO AND INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITY

Who: City of Springfield and Helping Hands of Springfield

When: Wednesday, November 8, 10 a.m. 11 a.m.

What: Open house at the Winter Warming Center

Where: 1015 E. Madison St., Springfield, IL