April 10, 2026
BY JOHN BAILEY
You’re on your fourth straight night of below freezing temperatures.
You’ve lived unsheltered for the last year.
You’re more than cold.
You’re scared.
Alone.
But then you hear a van pulling in near where you are camped.
And you suddenly have hope.
This moment played out time and time again throughout the months of January and February in Catawba County, which were dominated by 35 days with temperatures at or below freezing once the sun set.
But a collective of nonprofits worked together to ensure the unsheltered were not forgotten, had a place to go and a way to get there.
This group included The Salvation Army of Greater Hickory’s Shelter of Hope, Strong Life Ministries in Conover, Room In the Inn - coordinated by First United Methodist Church in Newton, The Kindness Project and Greater Hickory Cooperative Christian Ministry.
Together they either served as a warming site overnight, during the day or provided transportation to one of these sites.
A Warm Place to Stay
The Salvation Army of Greater Hickory’s Shelter of Hope expands its capacity of 75 during these severe weather conditions, known as White Flag nights. They create space for up to an additional 25 individuals within the shelter and 40 if they need to open their gym.
According to The Salvation Army’s March newsletter, the shelter had 8 White Flag nights just in February, utilizing 735 resident volunteer hours. Their youngest shelter guest was two-weeks old and the oldest was 86.
Getting there was the focus of The Kindness Project, which normally acts as a feeding and outreach program during the weekend.
“On average we transported as few as two to as many as ten individuals between the warming sites,” The Kindness Project’s Ashley Dellinger said.
As far as demographics, they’ve seen more older males and individuals who are dealing with mental/behavioral health issues. They even had a family one night.
“During the winter storm there were some suffering from mental health who couldn’t fathom going inside and being around other people,” Dellinger said. “So, we give then items to keep them warm along with food.”
Sharing a meal, building relationships
During that stretch of bitter cold, Strong Life Ministries stepped up as an overflow site. The agency remained open and available 24 hours a day for those in need of a warm place to stay, according to a report by Ministries Director John Hays.
Staff members were willing to be shuttled to the rescue mission in a four-wheel-drive truck so the agency could operate three shifts throughout these severe weather events. Strong Life also served over 120 meals a day during this period, totaling more than 2,200 meals.
For those in the Newton area, Room In The Inn is able to provide meals and a warm place to stay for up to 15 individuals during extreme cold nights and has been open more than 15 nights this winter.
“Each evening offers not just a place to sleep, but a place to belong,” Room in the Inn coordinator Kate Edwards said. “Relationships are being built around dinner tables and morning coffee.”
That connection has continued beyond just a night out of the weather to helping connect guests with needed services and ongoing support. This was the impact Greater Hickory Cooperative Christian Ministry provided as well, extending their day hours so the unsheltered had a warm, safe place to stay until they could get to one of the night warming sites.
Working together, these agencies showed just how powerful and important collaboration is among the nonprofit community in Catawba County.