Woodford County church opens emergency warming station

Woodford County, Ky (WTVQ): Woodford County now has an emergency warming station available for those without a home. This comes after a homeless person in Woodford, died from the cold last month.

Jo Lauderdale, started Living Grace Church in her living room seven years ago. Ever since she began, she knew her purpose was to love on people. “Giving them somewhere warm, telling them you don’t have to clean up, you don’t have to dress up. You don’t have to look up you just come in and if you just want to walk in and throw yourself on a cot and not speak to nobody that’s perfectly fine,” Lauderdale said.

Woodford County had a warming center, but then it closed down back in 2020, “and nothing replaced it. Then again, our homeless population isn’t huge. But I think it just got forgotten unfortunately,” she said.

Every Thursday, a group of concerned citizens in Woodford County, provide hot meals for anyone hungry. Lauderdale says she wants folks in the community to know of all the resources available. Anytime the temperature drops below 32 degrees they will be open. “We’ve been there.” Lauderdale said. “A lot of us have been homeless as well in our lifetimes. There’s no sense in anybody suffering. If there are people, and there are at least here in Woodford County who say I’ll spend the time, I’ll spend the money and I’ll help you.”

Starting at 7, the door is open for anyone looking for a warm place to sleep.