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Snow is seen blowing in central Lincoln on Thursday after an overnight snowstorm. Pet Hair Remover Glove
Amid an extreme cold front that has brought historically low wind chills to Lincoln, the Rev. Tom Barber, CEO of the People's City Mission, summed up the needs of the city's homeless community in two words.
The mission — Lincoln's only homeless shelter, which Barber said houses around 80% of the city's homeless population on any given day — housed closer to 95% of the homeless Wednesday night, as 1.5 inches of snow fell in Lincoln and wind chills dropped as low as minus-42.
As a National Weather Service winter weather advisory extends into Thursday evening — and with temperatures forecasted to remain below zero until Friday afternoon — the mission is seeking continued donations of blankets and winter weather apparel to help arm the city's homeless population against an unrelenting cold front.
"We can always use more," said Barber, who noted that the shelter had already seen an uptick in donations of hats, coats, gloves and blankets this month, which tends to happen every year around the holidays, he said.
"People give a lot in December," he said. "That's pretty traditional."
Still, this week's dangerous cold front has intensified challenges faced by both the homeless population and the shelter, which, most days, can suspend tenants who misbehave at the mission, a system that staff relies on to keep order Barber said.
But this week — through at least Saturday — the mission won't kick any tenants out for unruly behavior or policy violations, like pulling the shelter's fire alarm and forcing occupants into the cold. And the shelter won't turn anyone away, regardless of any prior suspensions or misbehavior.
Doing so, Barber said, would be a death sentence.
Instead, the mission is seeking an off-duty Lincoln Police officer to work security for five hours each evening at the shelter, at 110 Q St. just west of downtown. But none took the mission up on the offer Wednesday night.
"It's near Christmas, so I'm sure many of the officers want to be at home," Barber said. "It's not the most popular time to be asking for an off-duty officer. But we'll see."
Barber said the mission housed around 320 people across multiple facilities Wednesday night — a slight uptick from recent months but a figure that doesn't match pre-pandemic highs that, at times, topped 400.
Across town, at Matt Talbott Kitchen and Outreach near 27th and Fair streets, officials are ultimately hoping they don't seen an increase in patrons amid the bracing cold, said Glenn Schawang, the organization's outreach program coordinator.
"An increase isn't necessarily a good thing, because we really encourage people — if they have a place they can be out of the elements — to just not come out at all," he said.
The kitchen, though, will gladly welcome anyone who needs a hot meal or a warm place to stay amid daytime hours. And, Schawang said, the organization is seeking donations of cold-weather apparel as well as tents, sleeping bags and handwarmers — all of which are among constant needs on the kitchen's wish-list.
Like the mission's wish-list, Matt Talbot is also seeking items for year-round use — like shampoo, disposable razors and backpacks — that aren't tethered to this week's cold front.
But both organizations are hoping the extreme conditions and looming holiday can serve as a reason, or reminder, to give.
"It's our whole motto," Barber said. "This is a wonderful season, and we've been telling this on (the) radio and everything, and I say it because we mean it. It's not a marketing gimmick.
"This is a wonderful time to spread kindness, to be kind."
The former Grandmother's building at 6940 A St. is being torn down to make way for extra parking for the nearby Nebraska Orthopaedic Center.
Bobby Purviance (center) strapped into a Eksoskeleton by physical therapist Taylor Z during a presentation to showcase the new technology on Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022, at Bryan West Campus in Lincoln. The Eksoskeleton is a computerized walking frame that supports a patient’s body weight as he or she learns to walk and regain mobility. It seeks to benefit patients learning to walk again after a stroke or traumatic injury to the brain or spine. With donations from the Fraternal Order of Eagles in 2021. Over 40 patients at Bryan have used the new piece of technology in their recovery.
Construction workers prepare to take out a section of the east stairwell during the demolition of Piper Hall on Monday at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Simon and Rachel Rezac smile upon seeing their donated Christmas tree light up during the annual Nebraska State Christmas tree lighting Sunday.
Samford's Emily Bowman (left) tries to guard Nebraska's Allison Weidner as she dribbles the ball down court in the third quarter on Saturday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Purdue's Braden Smith tries to steal the ball away from Nebraska's Sam Griesel on Saturday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Nebraska's C.J. Wilcher (left) and Emmanuel Bandoumel react after a foul call against the Huskers with nine seconds left in overtime in a loss to Purdue on Saturday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Lincoln Southeast's Mari Shumaker has his hair fly as he drives to the basket past Millard North's Jacob Martin in overtime on Friday at Lincoln Southeast High School.
Estelle Sodji, a fifth grade student at Roper Elementary, jumps up in the air for a Russian toe touch dancing move as part of Lincoln Midwest Ballet Company's Backstage at the Ballet, Thursday, Dec. 8, 2022, in Lincoln.
Sam Volkmer (left), Matthew Bittinger (center), and Alma Cerretta play a board game at Mana Games Cafe in Lincoln.
From left to right, Nebraska's Sam Haiby, Kendall Moriarty, Allison Weidner and Callin Hake celebrate a three-pointer made by Jaz Shelley (not pictured) against Wisconsin on Wednesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
A nearly 40-foot blue spruce is hoisted onto a trailer Monday morning before it was transported to the state Capitol, where it will be on display in the rotunda throughout the holiday season.
Nebraska's Juwan Gary (4) quiets the crowd after the Huskers defeated Creighton on Sunday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
A portion of Lincoln's new South Beltway intersection with U.S. 77 is photographed by a drone, just outside on Lincoln city limits on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022, in Roca. The South Beltway is set to open Dec. 14, which is six months earlier than expected. The 11-mile freeway is one of the city's largest construction projects to date.
Nebraska's Ally Batenhorst celebrates after making a kill against Kansas during a second-round NCAA Tournament match Friday at the Devaney Sports Center.
Nebraska's Ally Batenhorst reacts after scoring against Kansas during a second-round NCAA Tournament match Friday at the Devaney Sports Center.
Waverly Middle School teacher Caitlin Bell talks with seventh grade students Hayden Ryan (from left), Logan Haas and Bailey Hitz during a language arts class, Friday, Dec. 2, 2022, in Waverly.
Millard West's Grace Kelly (20) drives in for a layup against Lincoln East on Thursday at East High School.
Nebraska's Maggie Mendelson (44) celebrates with her team after a scoring against Delaware State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday at the Devaney Sports Center.
Miami's Abby Cassiano (15) scores over Kansas' Rachel Langs (2) during a first-round NCAA Tournament match Thursday at the Devaney Sports Center.
Nebraska assistant coach Mickey Joseph walks out of Lancaster County Department of Corrections, Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022, in Lincoln.
Travis Mannschreck stocks records on the opening day of his business, First Day Vinyl , Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022, First Day Vinyl Lincoln.
Firefighters from Lincoln Fire & Rescue inspect the damage after a fire Thursday at a Ruskin Place apartment building at 910 Rutland Drive. There were concerns about HVAC units on top of the building causing the roof to sag.
Reach the writer at 402-473-7223 or awegley@journalstar.com.
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A Kansas City, Missouri, native, Andrew Wegley joined the Journal Star as breaking news reporter after graduating from Northwest Missouri State University in May 2021.
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