COLUMBIA, S.C. — While most of South Carolina braved the cold in their homes, some lacked the resources to stay warm. Groups at local churches provided warm shelter for them.
In tough circumstances, the simple stuff matters most for Michael Davidson. He was one of the dozens who showed up to the O'Neal Street United Methodist Church this weekend to stay in their overnight warming shelter.
"They are helping me, and by the grace of God, everything's going to be alright," he said. "[It's] warm, roof over your head, and all of the people here are very nice."
With temperatures dropping to as low as 17 degrees over the weekend, Tracy Wise and Mary Beth Heath knew the warming shelter needed to be open for the first time since last Christmas.
"I kept saying, 'Why doesn't somebody say something? Why doesn't somebody do something?' Then we decided it's 'lead, follow, or get out of our way," Heath said. "All of our food is donated, but we do have people, relationships with people, and some of the businesses that we could call and say, 'Can you help us?'"
They said that over the weekend, more than 20 people came to the shelter run by "Feed Thy Neighbor Kitchen" in partnership with the local outreach group "4Real 2nd Chances."
"They're being fed three times a day, they got clothes, we've got toiletries, whatever they need, we've got it," Wise said.
In Lexington County, RADIUS Church White Knoll hosted a similar warming shelter. Organizer Kaylie Deredita said more than 20 people slept there on Saturday night.
"We have clothing and showers available, and we've had consistent meals brought in, hot drinks, and snacks available and just around-the-clock volunteers that have been coming in and helping people get situated and comfortable," she said.
They worked with the community to get donations for food, and more than 50 air mattresses were provided entirely free. Deredita said it's another way she and the volunteers at RADIUS are sharing the gospel and the love of God.
"RADIUS is always extending an open, loving relationship with the community and wanting to have people come in and just show them the love of Christ, being the hands and feet," she said.
Both shelters said they will be open until Monday afternoon, when temperatures are expected to warm up, and are accepting donations.
