A shelter in Nesquehoning is hoping to provide a little warmth to people in need during the cold winter months.

Family Promise of Carbon County, located at 140 W. Mill St., opened its doors as a warming center this week as temperatures plummeted into single digits.

Cathy Lamm, executive director for the shelter, said that Family Promise wants to help those in need by providing them with a place to warm up - or cool down in the summer - as a way to build a relationship with the community.

“The warming center is weather dependent,” she said. “If the weather is cold, we’re going to keep it open.”

She said that if anyone is in need of getting warm, whether it be because you are homeless or if heating bills are too much for you, all you have to do is ring the doorbell and stay as long as you need. The warming center is located in the basement of the former St. Francis of Assisi Catholic church, which the organization purchased several years ago.

So far, a handful of people have taken advantage of the warming center, which in addition to warmth, provides people with coats, hats, gloves and other necessities if they are needed.

Lamm said that this is a way to build a strong foundation for those in need; adding that the shelter itself, located in the former church rectory, is full with seven families and a single woman.

She said that donations of clothing, food items, grocery store gift certificates, household goods, are all accepted at Family Promise.

“We accept pretty much anything,” Lamm said, “because a lot of times our families come to us and they have nothing and when they finally do get their own apartment or whatever, we try to send them off with basics.”

Anyone wishing to donate items can do so by simply showing up since someone is at the shelter at all times.

Lamm thanked the volunteers and staff for their dedication to Family Promise and said that everyone is welcome.

In addition to a warming center, Lamm said the shelter is preparing for the Point-in-Time homeless county on Jan. 24-25.

Volunteers will be making up necessity bags and the warming center will be open during count for those wishing to get out of the cold.