Lee County offering free hotels for residents without heat amid winter storm; Sumter shelter open to all near downtown

With the upcoming winter storm, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office shared that a local board wanted to help those who are homeless or without heat stay warm.
“Due to the shelter still being under construction if you or someone you know is currently homeless, living place to place temporarily or elderly without sufficient heat in their home, the Lee County Shared Hope Board of Directors has appropriated funds to place these individuals or family units in either Southland Motel or the Red Roof Inn,” the Lee County Sheriff’s Office said in a social media post.
Only Lee County residents or those currently living in the county temporarily are eligible for this emergency program, according to the sheriff’s office. It was designed to specifically assist Lee County residents who are either elderly, homeless or are families without heat.
To get registered and receive this assistance, contact LCSH President Luke Giddings at (803) 486-4155 or Operations Director Marsha Hewitt at (803) 727-6420.
Sumter United Ministries winter shelter is also preparing for extra guests.
To help those without homes or heat, Daphne Scarborough gets busy when it gets cold - really cold. She runs Sumter United Ministries' winter shelter, which opens from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. when the forecast dips below 40 at 215 N. Magnolia St.

According to Scarborough, they stop letting guests into the winter shelter at 9:30 p.m. After 9:30 p.m., it is at the on-duty officer's discretion to let guests in. 
She said they've been preparing to find coverage for security and staffing to accommodate the area's transient community and those who don't have heat in their homes this weekend.
The shelter has been averaging 15 guests a night this winter, its second in operation. They have capacity for 30.
She said neighborhood partners have been diligent in volunteering to bring and serve food each night, but they do need nonperishable breakfast items such as bars, fruit cups, granola bars, crackers and bottled water.
People can drop off water and nonperishable food items at 36 S. Artillery Drive Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.