CLARKSVILLE, TN – As Thanksgiving approaches, the City of Clarksville and its Canopy Initiative partners are preparing to ensure that our unhoused neighbors have a safe, warm, and welcoming place to spend the holiday.
This coordinated effort includes Clarksville-Area Urban Ministries, The Salvation Army, Irene Center for Hope, and the Clarksville-Montgomery County Community Action Agency.
But the shelters cannot open — not even for Thanksgiving — without enough volunteers to operate them.
Why This Matters Now
Clarksville’s winter warming shelters only open when temperatures are expected to drop below 35 degrees for three or more consecutive days. Forecasts indicate that this threshold may be met over the Thanksgiving holiday, meaning that many vulnerable individuals and families may need shelter during a time when volunteer availability is historically low…