Family Promise Opens Emergency Warming Center for Forsyth, Dawson Residents

Family Promise of Forsyth opened an emergency overnight warming center at 127 Samaritan Drive in Cumming to shelter local residents during a severe cold and ice event that struck north Georgia. The nonprofit ran the center for Jan. 30–31, operating from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m., with a 10 p.m. check-in cutoff and limited capacity.

Family Promise’s notice and local TV reporting said the center served Forsyth County and Dawson County residents, while the Forsyth County bulletin listed the site as the county’s warming center. The county announcement stated, “Family Promise of Forsyth County will operate an overnight warming center from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. on Jan. 30–31, with possible additional nights on Feb. 1–2.” Officials warned residents that “space is limited, and guests must check in by 10 p.m.”

The warming center provided emergency shelter during hours when exposure risks rise for people without stable housing. Hypothermia and frostbite are real public-health threats in prolonged freeze conditions, and warming centers supply warmth, food and connections to longer-term support. Volunteers and staff typically provide blankets, hot meals and referrals to housing and health services; regional outreach groups often coordinate additional help during multi-county events.

The regional roundup of emergency shelters also listed transportation coordination through Frontline Response International, with pickup routes beginning at 6 p.m. from multiple MARTA stations, libraries and community centers. The regional notice included a dispatch number for transportation assistance, 404-334-3610, and referenced Dekalb County’s official site for more details, though the announcement did not explicitly state whether those pickup routes served the Cumming site.

Neighboring counties opened supplemental warming options. First Baptist Church Woodstock operated a warming station at 11905 Highway 92 on Jan. 30–31, allowing arrivals between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. and departures by 8 a.m.; contact for Woodstock information is 770-406-6161. Covenant House Georgia in Atlanta kept its facility open 24 hours and serves youth and young adults ages 16 to 24 at 1559 Johnson Road NW; more information is available at 404-713-0954. In Bartow County, the Compassion Center in Cartersville remained open 24 hours through Feb. 4, with organizers saying volunteers and meal support were urgently needed via the center’s social media pages.

Family Promise of Forsyth used social media to announce contingency plans, noting, “As extreme cold continues, Family Promise of Forsyth County is preparing to open the Warming Center as early as Monday, depending on weather,” underscoring that operations were responsive to changing conditions.

For Forsyth and Dawson residents who needed a warm place to sleep, the Cumming site provided immediate relief during the cold snap; for neighbors and volunteers, the operation highlighted continuing gaps in shelter capacity and the need for coordinated transportation, volunteer shifts and meal support. Residents seeking transport help can call 404-334-3610, and those with questions about area youth services can reach Covenant House at 404-713-0954 or Woodstock organizers at 770-406-6161. Local nonprofits and county agencies say sustaining these short-term responses will require ongoing community support as officials assess whether additional nights or extended operations are needed.