NASHVILLE, Tenn.- Most of us have a comfortable place to take refuge from
this bitter cold, but the homeless have few options.
"My fear is that they'll crawl up somewhere in a corner or a back dock
somewhere, not very well protected, not dressed very well and maybe catch
hypothermia or even freeze to death," Ed Grimes, Director of Guest
Ministries, said.
That's why the Nashville Rescue Mission is preparing to open its doors to as
many as 200 more seeking shelter on Saturday night. Earlier in the afternoon,
the day room, that's usually half full, was almost at capacity and later Saturday
would be used as overflow.
It's all a part of the Mission's cold weather plan.
"Our base number is usually 560, but I always plan for a couple hundred
more just in case," the kitchen supervisor said as the staff prepared
dinner.
Everyone will get a hot meal, but even with more than 300 beds, not everyone
will have one to sleep in. Still, the freezing temperatures are too much for
anyone to bear.
"The homeless, they stay out on the streets, and they get conditioned
to this weather," Grimes explained. "Sometimes they misinterpret, and
they end up in danger as well."
It's normal procedure for
the Rescue Mission to hit the streets looking for the homeless when the
temperatures dip below freezing.
