As they have since early December, four local churches will be opening their doors as overnight warming centers to anyone who needs a warm, indoor space on nights when temperatures drop below 25 degrees. The Salvation Army is also opening homeless shelter overflow space at 409 North Broadway. 

Schedules will vary by site, and up-to-date bulletins will be sent to first responders, homeless outreach teams, hospitals, media outlets and other service providers.

Extreme cold weather is expected in Knoxville and Knox County this week (wk of Jan. 20) According to the National Weather Service, the cold snap “could rival the historic and dangerous cold of December 2022,” during which Knoxville and Knox County experienced rolling blackouts and building damage due to frozen and burst pipes.

The Knoxville-Knox County Office of Housing Stability is assisting by coordinating volunteer services. Volunteers are needed to deliver meals, set up cots, provide transportation to people who need to get to warming centers, check people in, or stay overnight.

If you would like to volunteer for this community-wide effort, please see the site-specific contact information below:  

Warming Center North
Fountain City United Methodist Church, 212 Hotel Rd.
Click here to sign up to volunteer .

Warming Center South
Vestal United Methodist Church, 115 Ogle Ave.
To volunteer, text AJ Jackson at 865-963-2661.

Warming Center East
Magnolia Avenue United Methodist Church, 2700 E. Magnolia Ave.
To volunteer, text Kecia Armstrong at 865-228-0990.

Warming Center West
Cokesbury Church, 9919 Kingston Pk.
To volunteer, go to Cokesbury.tv/Warming and click the “Volunteer Interest” button

The Salvation Army is also opening homeless shelter overflow space at 409 North Broadway.
To volunteer, sign up for a shift at their SignUpGenius page.

Supplies are also needed: new or gently used blankets, sleeping bags, gloves and hats; new toiletries and socks are especially appreciated. 

If you would like to donate supplies, please drop them off at Knox Area Rescue Ministries at 418 North Broadway. A dedicated trailer has been set up to hold warming center donations, so all donations meant for warming centers will be reserved for that effort. If you’d like more information, please contact KARM at (865) 673-6540 or email [email protected].

KAT Provides Free Rides to Warming Centers

Due to extremely cold temperatures in the immediate forecast, Knoxville Area Transit (KAT) is partnering with the Knoxville–Knox County Office of Housing Stability to provide complimentary rides to warming centers from Monday, Jan. 6, through at least Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025. 

Passengers may begin requesting free rides to warming centers after 3 p.m. each afternoon. Passengers can take any route to get to the warming center of their choice, and when they board the bus, they need to notify the bus operator that they are requesting a free ride to a warming center. 

“Providing free transportation to warming centers is a vital part of our mission to serve the Knoxville community,” said Isaac Thorne, Director of Transit for the City of Knoxville. “During these dangerously cold temperatures, ensuring access to warm and safe shelter can save lives, and KAT is committed to supporting this critical effort.”

Warming centers open on any night that the National Weather Service forecasts temperatures to drop below 25 degrees. As they have done since early December 2024, four local churches will open their doors overnight to provide a warm, indoor space. In addition, there is a Homeless Shelter overflow site located at Salvation Army. Their schedules vary and are subject to change as forecasts develop.

The locations, and the KAT routes that can be taken to them, are as follows:

South: 
Vestal United Methodist, 115 Ogle Ave
Opens at 5:00 p.m.
Take KAT Route 45: Vestal – exit Ogle @ Coffee, or exit Martin Mill Pike @ Moody

West:
Cokesbury Church, 9919 Kingston Pike
Opens at 7:00 p.m.
Take KAT Route 16: Middlebrook/ Cedar Bluff – exit Cedar Bluff before/ after Kingston Pike, then walk to Kingston Pike and go west. Cokesbury church is on the right just past Perimeter Park Rd

North:
Fountain City United Methodist, 212 Hotel Rd
Opens at 9:00 p.m.
Take KAT Route 22: Broadway – exit Broadway @ Hotel

East:
Magnolia Ave United Methodist, 2700 E Magnolia Ave
Opens at 5:00 p.m.
Take KAT Route 31: Magnolia – exit Magnolia @ Harrison

Homeless shelter overflow site:
Salvation Army, 409 N Broadway
Opens at 6:00 p.m.
Take KAT Route 22: Broadway – exit Broadway @ Depot, or exit Broadway @ 5th Ave
Take KAT Route 16: Middlebrook/ Cedar Bluff – exit 5th Ave @ Broadway, or exit 5th Ave @ Cooper