Sudbury warming centre stayed open throughout massive snowstorm

Sudbury's 24/7 warming centre stayed open throughout this week's extreme storm, sheltering up to 40 people at a time. Madison Marier has more.

The Energy Court warming centre in Sudbury remained a beacon of refuge throughout the severe weather that pummelled the city earlier this week, thanks to the dedication of staff who worked through the entirety of the storm.

With replacement crews unable to get in due to the hazardous conditions, the Go-Give Project team on site weathered the elements alongside the clients who depend on them for safety.

Evie Ali, the non-profit’s executive director, praised the commitment of her team, who kept the doors open for an average of 40 individuals at a time during the peak of the weather event.

“I’m so proud of how our staff handled it,” she said.

“The compassion that was brought through, you know, just the sheer grit of everybody was incredible, and because of that, we were able to keep the center open.”

The staff worked marathon shifts, but Ali noted the effort was a collective one that also drew on the support of the people seeking shelter.

“They were all supporting each other. The community was helping to support some of the roles within the center. So, they were taking turns trying to rest as much as they possibly could. But essentially, you know, even with that rest, they were working very, very long hours and together supporting each other,” she said.

Community groups offer support

The spirit of mutual aid extended beyond the centre’s walls, with volunteers braving the cold to ensure those on the streets had access to warm supplies.

A group of volunteers was on site again on the following day, which remained bitterly cold, offering a moment of warmth and connection to the homeless population.

“We get together to share the hope of Jesus and the love of God and to give snacks and hot chocolate to the homeless,” said one volunteer.

“We just know that this is a struggling time, so we want to be there for them.”

The volunteers added that the experience of helping is enriched by the relationships built with those they serve.

“There are a lot of people, you know, like us, that are, you know, trying to make a difference, obviously, and it’s amazing to come down here because you get to know people.”

Ongoing need for winter supplies

As the region remains in the grip of winter, the demand for basic necessities to survive the cold continues to climb. Ali detailed the items the centre is burning through fastest as people battle the elements.

“We can continue to use winter supplies until, you know, we get a break in the weather and until the snow kind of disappears,” she said.

“So things like hand warmers, socks, nonperishable snacks, they’re always in demand and we’re going through them quite quickly with the elements right now.”

Despite the relentless demands of the season, Ali emphasized that the organization feels buoyed by the backing it receives from the wider community, which enables them to continue their work both during emergencies and on regular days.

“We just felt so supported by both the city and the community,” she said.

“We’re really grateful for that, because that translated into the work that our staff was able to do.”