EUGENE, Ore. – As temperatures drop overnight, Egan Warming Centers across Lane County are opening their doors on Saturday to provide vital shelter for those in need. Operated by Saint Vincent de Paul, these centers are a lifeline for the unhoused community during harsh weather conditions.
Bill Barnard, director of operations at Saint Vincent de Paul, emphasized the urgency, stating that “these temperatures can obviously kill and our mission is to provide that shelter for anybody that needs it,” said Barnard.
Barnard detailed the activation process, explaining, “I call an activation 48 hours before that day before the activated day. So last night at 5:00, I called for Saturday.” He noted that if temperatures remain low, the centers will stay open through the weekend.
The Egan Warming Centers rely entirely on volunteers, and this year, the need for support is greater than ever. “We took a 50% cut from our county programs related to all of our shelters across the board. And so donors have really stepped up this year to make this possible in a big way,” said Barnard…