For my mother, the words “heat” and “too much” could not be used in the same sentence.
More Top Picks Reading Comprehension Strategies For Kids Who Decode Well
Her apartment never was warm enough to suit her. She would set the thermostat to its highest setting. Even this might not be enough. Often – too often – she would turn on her oven to boost the temperature. I always figured her next step would be to start a fire in the sink.
Things never got that bad. And my brothers and I would stop by every day and turn off the oven and bring her full-body blankets and the like.
Yep, my mother liked it hot.
But, that was her choice. She never was in any real danger of hypothermia or frostbite.
Other people aren’t as lucky.
Almost every night I see on the news images of men, women and even kids huddled in tents under viaducts trying not to freeze to death. It is terrible to be homeless. It is dangerous to be homeless in winter.
You’d think that in this country, at this time in history no one would have to worry about freezing to death.
But, you’d be wrong.
Not freezing to death in the United States is not a right. It is good luck.
For the unlucky, we offer warming centers.
And thank heaven we do. Cold can kill. These warming centers – while not the real solution to freezing humanity – undoubtedly save lives and prevent illness. And it’s not just the homeless who suffer. Some dwellings may have inadequate heat. Here in Oak Park, landlords are required to provide a minimum temperature of 70 degrees from 6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. and 65 degrees from 11 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.
And for those who need the life-giving heat of warming centers, here are some local options:
* West Suburban Hospital, Erie and Austin, 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. 708-763-6747.
* Rush Oak Park Hospital, 500 S. Maple Ave. 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. 708-660-6000.
* Oak Park Township Senior Services, 130 S. Oak Park Ave. 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. 708-383-8060.
* Oak Park Village Hall, 123 Madison St. 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. 708-383-6400.
* River Forest Township, 8020 W. Madison St. 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday. 708-771-6159.
Oak Park residents who need transportation to a warming center should call the Oak Park non-emergency police number: 708-386-3800.
Until society – or perhaps human nature – changes, warming centers are what we offer those threatened by winter’s dangers.
And they are better than nothing, a lot better.
More Top Picks Best Sleeping Pillows For Shoulder Pain
Paul Sassone is a freelance columnist for Pioneer Press.