LEXINGTON, Ky. — Winter will look a little different around Lexington’s Hope Center this season.
The long-time support organization recently opened its new addition, Hope Village. It’s a customized warming center in partnership with the YMCA and the city.
Hope Center’s Assistant Director of Development Destiny Oakley says they are helping around 160 more people for the next few months, in addition to the others already in their programs.
Oakley says so far, the village has shown there’s a need. “We’ve already seen it pretty much filling each night. We had to take one of the extra spaces that was kind of designed to be some tables and chairs for them to be able to sit in the community. And we’ve already had to fill that space with additional beds,” Oakley said.
That’s why they are asking folks in the city to help donate a gently used or brand-new winter coat this season.
She says many of the people at the warming center are relying on limited items and will need winter gear like hats, scarves, gloves and heavy-duty winter coats. “A lot of them are coming with pretty much only the belongings that they can hold. Or maybe carrying a backpack and only the clothes that they’re wearing often,” she explained.
During the year, they have their normal facilities available like their shelter that stores their clothing closet.
Oakley says they’re expecting a bigger crowd. “This year, with that increased capacity of serving, you know, almost double the number of people down in our shelter area each night, is really where we’ve seen that capacity kind of grow beyond what we have on hand,” she explained.
People can take donations to the Don Ball Campus Center at 298 West Loudon Avenue in Lexington. Monetary donations can also be made through their website.