Due to the expected daily cold temperatures, the cold weather shelter will open at 4 p.m. on Thur., Dec. 22, and will remain open 24 hours a day until 8 a.m. on Mon., Dec. 26. The cold weather shelter is located at Ferris Hill Baptist Church, 6848 Chaffin St. in Milton. Only service animals (with verification of rabies vaccination) are permitted to stay with guests. No one will be admitted after 8:30 p.m. unless brought in by law enforcement.

With the cold weather shelter adding extended hours over the Christmas weekend, volunteers are needed for two-hour shifts between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Fri., Dec. 23, Sat., Dec. 24 and Sun., Dec. 25.

Volunteers will greet guests and be available for them if needed. Two volunteers are required per shift so no one will be alone. Parents with students who need volunteer hours can earn credit. The student must volunteer with their parent. If the parent prefers to have an additional adult with them and their student, they may sign up on one slot with their student to leave the other slot available for another adult. Sign up to volunteer online.

Santa Rosa County’s cold weather shelter is operated by Ferris Hill Baptist Church, utilizing volunteer resources and donations. It opens each night weather is forecasted to drop below 40 degrees, typically December through March. The shelter is for people who are homeless or cannot maintain heat in their home, can care for themselves, and are not at risk to themselves or others. No one will be admitted to the shelter who is under the influence of drugs or alcohol, unable to walk unaided or disoriented.