COAL TOWNSHIP -- If you do have to be out in the cold and need a place to warm up, there are locations across our viewing area open for just that.
The Shamokin/Coal Township Senior Action Center is set up and ready for people to come get out of the cold. The center will be open until Monday morning for whoever needs it.
When people in lower Northumberland County have concerns, many call State Representative Kurt Masser's office. this week, calls came from people with no heat and broken pipes.
"This is a potential crisis and we want to have it here if people need it," Rep. Masser said.
Masser's staff partnered with Northumberland County government agencies to come up with a solution. That brought them to the Shamokin/Coal Township Senior Action Center.
"For people who are needing it to get out of the cold, it's a warm place to stay with something warm in their stomachs," Rep. Masser said.
If you have frozen or burst pipes or are out of heating oil or have no heat you have a place to go. There are cots, bathrooms, and plenty of food.
"We wanted to bring some donations up, some drinks and snacks. We do have a local food bank where we get stuff in so when we can help the community, we try to," said Helen Neachem.
Donations poured in like clockwork.
"We wanted to help the community and make sure they had some snacks to eat here at the warm-up shelter," Kelly Ebersole said.
Shamokin's ambulance company, Area Services, is picking people up and driving them to the shelter. People are even dropping off money to buy others heating oil.
"This community I knew would be that way. Whenever people are down in this community, people rally around and take care of their own," Rep. Masser said.
This warming center is located at the Shamokin/Coal Township Senior Action Center on Chestnut Street in Coal Township. It's open through Monday morning for anyone who needs to get out of the cold.