By Paige Orr, Fox23 News
TULSA, Okla. — As temperatures drop across the Tulsa area, the Tulsa Day Center is expanding its services and deploying outreach teams to help those experiencing homelessness.
The center is activating its inclement weather mode, which means increased capacity at its night shelter.
“The temperatures dropped drastically just this afternoon, and so we’re prepared to go into our inclement mode, meaning for our night shelter guests, we’ll be expanding our services for tonight,” said Mack Haltom, CEO of the Tulsa Day Center.
The center typically serves around 80 to 85 people during regular night shelter hours, but Haltom said that number could increase to more than 120 people on cold nights.
The shelter will provide mats, blankets and warm meals for those seeking refuge from the cold.
At least two outreach teams will be on the streets tonight and early tomorrow morning, checking on people who may be living on sidewalks or in encampments.
“They’ll be looking for people that may be on the streets, on sidewalks, maybe even in encampments, to be sure that they’re okay,” Haltom said. “Providing some necessities, warming supplies, those kind of things, as well as perhaps maybe getting them to shelter too.”
If you see someone who appears to need assistance but is not in distress, you can call the outreach team at 918-592-4183. If someone is in distress, call 911.
The center is also in need of donations, particularly men’s and women’s underwear, men’s shoes and pants, and cold weather items like blankets, stocking caps, gloves and hand warmers.
The Tulsa Day Center’s clothing room is open seven days a week. For more information about donations and services, click here.
