Roseburg Warming Center Needs Volunteers At St Joseph Church

ROSEBURG, Ore. — The United Community Action Network (UCAN), which offers services throughout Douglas and Josephine counties, has just one warming center in Roseburg.

It offers a warm meal and overnight stay on freezing nights and is seeking volunteers for this winter.

Volunteers Needed At Roseburg Warming Center

The UCAN warming center is located at St. Joseph Church, within the Church’s gymnasium. Church Administrator Dustin Busse confirmed that the church is a multi-use building that used to be a Catholic school, which has been closed since the early 2000s. Busse said, “ We’ve been finding different creative ways in which to open up this space for volunteers.”

Volunteers are needed to help distribute meals to visitors, support check-in procedures, and perform other tasks assigned on the days that the center is open, which will only be when the weather drops below 30 degrees.

The warming center provides a safe and warm place for those struggling with the cold weather. UCAN provides hot meals for visitors who stay overnight, and visiting pets must be in a kennel on-site at the gymnasium.

The Church opened its doors last year, too. Volunteers supported about 60 cots for people to spend overnight and stay warm. Still, it is the first year Busse has been involved since joining the church as administrator earlier this year.

Busse is willing to help by keeping the space open for the warming center and, being new to the area, has been moved by the number of charities and people who are willing to help people who are going through tough times and is encouraged to be a part of this mission to try to help those in need.

UCAN in Douglas County can be contacted by calling (541) 671-6549 or visiting their offices at 948 SE Mill Street in Roseburg between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.