Snow, ice, and rain are in the forecast for Greenville, Spartanburg, and Anderson starting Friday and ending early Saturday morning.
The forecast extends cold weather until Sunday, Jan 12, according to the National Weather Service.
There is a potential for wintry precipitation to develop Friday into early Saturday across the Upstate, according to Ashley Rehnberg with the National Weather Service at GSP.
“Right now, it looks like the precip could initially start as snow on Friday and then transition to more of a wintry mix of freezing rain and sleet, maybe some snow mixed in as well Friday night into early Saturday,” Rehnberg said.
Snowfall amounts remain indefinite, but Rehnberg said 1-3 inches could be possible with the low-pressure system.
Lows will be in the 20s every night through next Thursday, Jan. 16, according to the NWS.
Snow still expected for Upstate: Snow still expected for Upstate on Friday: The latest forecast from NWS meteorologists
Are you ready for this week’s snow? Are you ready for this week’s snow? Here’s what to buy ahead in case you get snowed in
As a result, several warming centers, shelters, and soup kitchens have opened up in the Upstate to provide refuge for homeless people during inclement weather.
Miracle Hill Ministries operates four cold weather shelters — the Greenville Rescue Mission, Shepherd’s Gate Women’s Shelter, Spartanburg Rescue Mission, and Cherokee Rescue Mission, said Guest Supporter Brian Newton at Miracle Hill Ministries.
Newton said cold weather shelters open when temperatures drop to 40 degrees or below and operate from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m.
“When cold-weather shelters open, a white flag flies on the Rescue Missions flagpole,” he said.
Homeless facilities offer warmth, food, and safety for those in need, ensuring they have a place to stay as temperatures drop. Donations of cash and non-perishable items are also welcome, helping to stock pantries and supply essential resources.
Ice on standing water as a man walks his dog along East North Avenue in Anderson, S.C. Tuesday, January 7, 2024.
A thermometer hangs on a fence at HOPE Missions as visitors who stayed in the shelter move around outside, in Anderson, S.C. Tuesday, January 7, 2024.
Debbie Antwon works to change trash bags and clean the dining area, between nights of visitors staying in the HOPE Missions shelter in Anderson Tuesday, January 7, 2024.
Learn about volunteering at cold weather shelters below.
What to know about volunteering at cold weather shelters
Community volunteers and local organizations help keep shelters running.
“Volunteers are our most needed resource during these harsh winter conditions,” said Yolanda Campusano, communications and public relations agent for Miracle Hill Ministry.
“They play a crucial role in maintaining our shelter operations and providing support to those seeking refuge,” she said.
Members of the staff at Miracle Hill Ministries in Spartanburg talk about how their mission is to support the needs of people experiencing homelessness. Jim Hames, left, and Yolanda Campusano-Pilarte of Miracle Hill’s talks about sleeping areas for people experiencing homelessness. Men and women with children sleep separate.
She encouraged community members to step forward and lend a hand, emphasizing that even a few hours of volunteering can make a significant difference.
Volunteer Outreach Pastor Butch Howard, Guest Supporter Brian Newton, and Cooking Manager Dan Coe are volunteers at Miracle Hill Ministries and emphasize the spirit of community and compassion at the cold weather shelters.
Members of the staff at Miracle Hill Ministries in Spartanburg talk about how their mission is to support the needs of people experiencing homelessness. Yolanda Campusano-Pilarte talks about how Miracle Hill keeps stocks of supplies to help people experiencing homelessness.
The collective effort of volunteers ensures that everyone receives a warm meal and a sense of comfort during harsh winter days.
“I have been volunteering for almost three years, and it has been incredibly rewarding,” said Butch Howard, volunteer outreach pastor at Greer Appalachian Baptist Church.
Howard said there are endless opportunities for people to get involved, from simple tasks like sweeping the floor to more involved roles like preaching.
He said volunteering not only helps those in need but also enriches the volunteers’ lives. “As we serve Jesus, we make a difference in the lives of people Jesus died on the cross for,” Howard said.
Coe said when he initially signed on to be the cooking manager at the Greenville Rescue Mission, he was shocked by the sheer number of guests to feed.
“I am honored to serve,” Coe said.
Click here to learn about the steps to volunteering at one of Miracle Hill Ministries’ cold weather shelters.
Here is a list of warming centers, shelters, and soup kitchens that are open in the area.
Greenville Rescue Mission
Miracle Hill Ministries’ Greenville Rescue Mission is located at 575 W. Washington St. It serves only homeless men.
Guests check in at 8 p.m., and intake hours are from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Greenville Rescue Mission has 135 dormitory-style rooms and six respite care beds.
Campusano said guests can shower, have a snack or meal, and be assigned a mat and blanket.
Those who conduct themselves in an orderly manner are allowed to stay, she said. They will receive breakfast and coffee at check out at 6:30 a.m.
Hours may be extended based on weather severity, Campusano said.
Click here to donate to Miracle Hill Ministries’ cold weather shelters.
Shepherd’s Gate Women’s Shelter
Shepherd’s Gate Women-Only Shelter is at 11 Regency Hill Drive, Greenville. It shelters women and mothers with young children and provides food, shelter, and clothing.
The shelter can accommodate up to 63 women in a caring and supportive environment. Intake hours are from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Spartanburg Rescue Mission-Miracle Hill Ministries
Spartanburg Rescue Mission, located at 189 N. Forest St., serves men, women, and mothers with young children.
The shelter provides homeless victims with food, toiletries, showers, blankets, clothing, and mental health therapy.
While there are more than 200 beds available to the homeless at shelters in Spartanburg County, only 20 are open to single women, leaving mothers who don’t have custody of their children and women who aren’t mothers with no place to turn when they find themselves on the street. Joy Jones sits and reads in a dormitory of Miracle Hill Rescue Mission’s women’s shelter. [ALEX HICKS JR/Spartanburg Herald-Journal]
Intake hours are from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. It has 94 beds in dormitory-style rooms.
Cherokee County Rescue Mission
Cherokee County Rescue Mission is located at 227 Henderson St. in Gaffney and serves men, women, and mothers with young children.
Men and women are housed in separate dormitory-style wings.
This shelter provides essential services such as food, shelter, and clothing to those in need.
Intake hours are 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., during which individuals can register for assistance.
The facility has 47 shelter beds, offering immediate housing solutions for those in need and six additional beds designated for transitional housing.
United Ministries of Greenville
United Ministries of Greenville on Forest Street also operates overnight shelters that open when the temperature drops below 40 degrees.
It has a capacity of 94 beds in dormitory-style rooms and provides services for men, women, and mothers with young children.
Intake hours are from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Click here to make a quick, secure, and tax-deductible donation online.
The Pendleton Place and Youth Shelter
The Pendleton Place and Youth Shelter,1133 Pendleton St. in Greenville, is an emergency shelter for young people ages 12 to 21.
The shelter operates Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Click here to learn how to give back to the Pendleton Place and Youth Shelter.
The Salvation Army of Greenville
The Salvation Army, located at 417 Rutherford Road in Greenville, opens its cold-weather shelter when overnight temperatures drop below 40 degrees.
The Salvation Army of Greenville is open Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Click here to donate to the Salvation Army of Greenville, Pickens, and Oconee.
Hope Missions of the Upstate
Hope Missions of the Upstate, 213 S. Towers St., in Anderson, announced it would open its warming center to provide refuge for individuals seeking shelter from the severe cold.
The shelter can accommodate 40 people and provides overnight shelter from November 1 to March 31 whenever temperatures drop below 38 degrees.
Hope Missions of the Upstate shelter is open “during the heavy impacts of the storm” said Josh Hawkins, Director Anderson County Emergency Management, as Tropical Storm Helene brings heavy rain and winds in Anderson, S.C. Thursday, September 26, 2024.
The warming center is open Monday through Saturday from 7:15 a.m. to 10 a.m. and closed on Sundays.
Listed below are the next six days of slot availability at Hope Missions of the Upstate
According to Dave Phillips, executive director of HOPE Missions of the Upstate, “there are 34 of 66 empty slots forecast for next week.”
-
Wednesday, Jan 8 (WC25) — opening at 6 p.m. — 4 of 11 slots are empty — 0 men for B-shift
-
Thursday, Jan 9 (WC26) — opening at 6 p.m. — 5 of 11 slots are empty
-
Friday, Jan 10 (WC27) — opening at 6 p.m. — 6 of 11 slots are empty
-
Saturday, Jan 11 (WC28) — opening at 6 p.m. — 10 of 15 slots are empty
-
Sunday, Jan 12 (WC29) — opening at 8 p.m. — 8 of 11 slots are empty
“We have several rooms that are set up ahead of time with space, both on the men’s side and the women’s side, to ensure everyone has a comfortable place to stay,” said Zoë Hale, the volunteering coordinator of Hope Missions of the Upstate.
Zoe Hale of HOPE Missions sees visitors on the street come in and out as she prepares for another of several freezing days and a winter storm ahead in Anderson, S.C. Tuesday, January 7, 2024.
“We’ve also established an emergency shelter with two staging areas to manage the influx of guests efficiently,” Hale explained. “We have set out 10 tables and some stools, providing a comfortable space for everyone, and there’s an open area dedicated to the homeless management information system to help us track the numbers accurately.
“Additionally, we closely monitor the national weather forecast because sometimes it gets colder faster than anticipated,” Hale said. “In such cases, we may need to open additional slots to accommodate more guests seeking warmth and shelter.”
Zoe Hale of HOPE Missions watches a shelter visitor go outside with a bag of clothes as she works through the day to prepare for more nights of freeze and a winter storm in Anderson, S.C. Tuesday, January 7, 2024.
Upon arrival, guests receive an initial briefing in the courtyard, where heaters are set up, and they are offered coffee, snacks, and access to a hygiene station for their convenience, she said.
“We are incredibly grateful for the support we receive from the community,” Hale said. “Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church generously donated new cots, replacing all of our old ones to ensure more comfort for our guests.”
Zoe Hale of HOPE Missions looks over some of the 154 beds, between nights of visitors staying in the HOPE Missions shelter in Anderson Tuesday, January 7, 2024.
West Point Home provided sheets and blankets, which keep people warm and comfortable overnight, Hale said.
“We’ve gathered volunteer teams from over the last four years,” Hale said. “These dedicated individuals are always ready to assist, ensuring we have enough volunteers available if an overnight stay is needed.”
Steve Fortson works to mop floors between nights of visitors staying in the HOPE Missions shelter in Anderson Tuesday, January 7, 2024.
Hale emphasized the importance of this preparation, noting that it allows the center to accommodate individuals seeking refuge from the cold.
Visitors stay close to HOPE Missions during the day, as workers inside prepare for several freezing days ahead in Anderson, S.C. Tuesday, January 7, 2024.
“Our goal is to provide a welcoming and safe environment for all who come through our doors,” Hale said.
Click here to donate to Hope Missions of the Upstate.
Photographer Ken Ruinard and Trending Reporter Nina Tran contributed to this article.
Travis Rose covers Anderson County for the Independent Mail. Reach him via email at trose@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: List of Greenville, Upstate cold weather shelters, what to know