Bread Shed opens when cold nights loom

Arctic temperatures have made their way to Southeast Missouri, and some people may wonder how to stay warm through the night. The Bread Shed in Poplar Bluff is offering a solution for those individuals.

Partnering with Family Counseling Center and multiple other organizations, the Bread Shed at 203 N. D St. in Poplar Bluff is providing an overnight warming center, open from 7 p.m. — 7 a.m. The overnight warming center opens whenever the forecast predicts temperatures at 20 degrees or lower. They will announce openings 24 hours in advance.

Bread Shed Director Chris Kellums said all of this is made possible by multiple organizations involved who donate their time.

“I’m hesitant to start naming names, because I’m worried I’ll forget someone,” Kellums said. “But this is truly a community program. We’re getting help at multiple levels to do this. SMTS (Southeast Missouri Transit System) is helping by transporting people here. The Poplar Bluff Police Department comes by once each hour to check on things. There are so many levels of support to make this thing work.”

Jeannette Townsend, head of public relations for FCC, said the warming center at the Bread Shed is the only one providing overnight shelter in Poplar Bluff at this time.

“This isn’t their first year doing this,” Townsend remarked. “And FCC is just working with them to help coordinate volunteers and to make everything run smoothly.”

Kellums said he is extremely grateful for all of the support and attention the program has received.

“This is our second year doing this,” he explained. “And, right now, we are equipped to provide shelter for up to 20 people. If the situation arises where we need more than the number of cots we currently have, we will be able to get more.”

Kellums explained the shelter is not just for homeless individuals.

“There are people out there who don’t have any power in their homes,” Kellums explained. “And there are other people who just happen to live somewhere that they can’t keep warm for one reason or another. Anyone who can’t stay warm is welcome to come to the Bread Shed.”

During the day, both the Poplar Bluff Public Library and the Butler County Health Department can be accessed as warming centers. Kellums said he is happy to see other organizations help provide warmth during this stretch of cold weather.

Though he doesn’t have a definitive number of how many might need to utilize the warming shelter, Kellums said he anticipates approximately six individuals on the first night.

“Things like this show the importance of the community coming together. It’s likely that we’ll have to be open at least through Thursday,” Kellums noted. “It’s when we can all work together that we can get things done. We just want to help. It’s what Jesus wants us to do.”

Kellums said the Bread Shed is accepting donations of new blankets, pillows, and sleeping bags on site, and if someone wants to make a monetary donation, they can donate through the organization’s PayPal at donate.breadshed@gmail.com.

“We also have a QR code on our flier that people can scan if they want to donate,” Kellums said. “People can find us online for more information at www.breadshed.org, or our Facebook page, named ‘The Bread Shed.’”