The Recovery Zone of Logan County has successfully wrapped up the 2024–2025 Warming Shelter season, hosted at the Bellefontaine First Church of God in Bellefontaine.
The shelter, which opened on nights when temperatures dropped below 20 degrees, provided 160 overnight stays to 35 people seeking warmth, safety, and community.
The effort was led by Amber Chivington, Kathy Zeller, and Dougie Boggs, who coordinated operations, volunteer teams, and community support.
Boggs talks about the experience:
The shelter space, located in the church’s basement, offered two sleeping areas, a dining space, a mini kitchen, and access to storage.
During the season, 29 volunteers served a total of 378.5 hours, with 20 dedicated to overnight shifts from 9 p.m. to early morning.
Intake operations took place from 7–9 p.m. nightly.
The shelter operated overnight on 27 occasions, most during an unseasonably cold January that saw 22 nights under 20 degrees.
On an additional 22 nights, the shelter opened for short-term evening support—offering warmth, food, and care—even when overnight stays weren’t required.
The initiative was powered by local generosity.
Donations included, but weren’t limited to:
- Firehouse Pizza, Donatos, Fat Boys Pizza (multiple meals), and Buckeye Gospel Barn for hot meals
- Green Hills Nursing Home for resources and supplies
- Bellefontaine First Christian Church, contributing $2,000 in warming gear
- United Way, which provided a survival gear grant and gas cards
- Kim Summers, Kelley’s Designer Loft
Reflecting on the season, team lead Kathy Zeller said: “Together we have done so much! Together we will continue to do so much!”
Volunteers echoed that sentiment with powerful words of their own:
- “The impact this made on volunteers was emotional—you felt connected, and it was a blessing.”
- “Everyone has a story… they did more for me than I did for them.”
- “We get you fed and warm—then worried about the rest.”
With the season wrapped, organizers are focused on long-term solutions.
Discussions are underway with the Logan County Commissioners to explore a more permanent shelter option.
One potential site under consideration is the former Lutheran Services location, which could be enhanced and repurposed to serve year-round needs.
More details are expected to emerge in the coming months as planning continues.
The Housing Innovation Committee, a subcommittee of the Housing Coalition of Logan County, will meet on Wednesday, May 14 at noon at Bellefontaine First Church of God to discuss next steps for the shelter program and future housing support efforts.
The group also discussed other needs of the community with one voluneer expressing the need to feed those who are hungry and filling in the gaps as local shelters .
