WR business owners support warming center

Continuing their work from the year prior, Warner Robins’ Table Church has decided to open a warming center for the homeless during the coldest months of the year. From Dec. 22 to Dec. 26, the church will shelter those in need during the coldest days of the month, and then will reopen again Jan. 2.

This year, however, the church will be able to provide those spending the night in the warming center with a bed to sleep in.

During their stint hosting the shelter last year, guests slept in cots. After some collaboration between the Robins Regional Chamber and the business community in Houston County, the shelter will be furnished with 33 bunk beds — 66 beds total — as well as showers and laundry washing stations.

The Journal spoke with Warner Robins Code Enforcement Officer Brian Wise and Robins Regional Chamber CEO April Bragg for more details.

“I got a visit from Officer Wise with Code Enforcement, and he shared with me that this fee for the warming center was really taking off, that the city was putting its full support behind it, but what we needed most immediately was to increase the capacity for sleeping,” Bragg said. “He said if we can figure out a way to get 33 bunk beds with mattresses and bedding and all the things, it’s going to change the impact and scope of what we’re doing. I felt like this was the right opportunity for the chamber and the business community to embrace.”

Bragg said she reached out to Steve Durham with Home Furniture and Mattress, as well as Tony Batts with Battco Office Furniture for unit pricing. Running the numbers, Bragg said she and her team discovered that a $300 donation would help provide these furnishings for two people in need.

With that information in hand, Bragg said she reached out to the local business community via a live video on the Robins To-Go Facebook page, as well as through the Robins Regional private group for members, and through their e-news.

Bragg said that by 9 a.m. the next morning, all the bunk beds and mattresses to go with them were fully funded.

“This community has stepped up to help us,” Wise said, when asked about the chamber’s work. “She was able to raise enough money to pay for the 33 beds and [66] mattresses that afternoon.”

According to Wise, working with local businesses, Bragg was able to have the beds purchased by wholesale. Without her help, Table Church would have had to find $9,900 to provide beds.

“This community, the businesses, the leaders — everybody just stepped up,” Wise said.

He also added that Rehoboth Church is providing showers for the shelter, with laundry stations attached.

“It’s been amazing to see all the community come together to support this,” Wise said. “That’s going to be what it takes — not just one person, but a group of people to come together to do this.”

Bragg said that she felt in her gut that this feat was possible.

“When I was able to call them back less than 24 hours later to tell them we had the effort fully funded, it really was exciting,” Bragg said. “The chamber, being the connector of people and resources, and a champion for a stronger community — this fit right in line with what our members care about and what we know they want to invest. They turned around and put their money where their mouth is.”

Assisting in this work, the chamber hopes to provide care to those who need it most, ensuring that the community’s basic needs are taken care of. The work, however, is not finished.

“There is definitely still a need,” Bragg said. “We are still collecting funds, and are happy to play our party in moving this along.”

Further donations will go towards linens and blankets, as well as any other needs of those effected by homelessness.

Checks can be made payable to Disciple Neighbor Ministries, and can be dropped off at the Robins Regional Chamber, or at First Christian Church at 100 North Houston Road.

Bragg suggested those who are able to provide donations of $300, which will allow the chamber to purchase larger quantities of items at wholesale. Donations of any size, however, are welcome.

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