In recent months, each night the temperature dropped below 15 degrees, Wesley United Methodist Church in Aurora opened its doors to those who needed a warm place to sleep.
The city of Aurora this winter contracted with the church at 14 N. May St. to run the city’s overnight warming center, which provides a cot, snacks and water in a warm building with security from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. to those who might otherwise be sleeping outdoors.
For the church’s efforts, Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin presented the church’s pastor, the Rev. Tammy Scott, with a Mayor’s Award for Excellence at Tuesday’s City Council meeting.
“Thank you very much for all you do for the city of Aurora,” Irvin said.
The warming center opened for the first time this year on Nov. 29, which was the day after Thanksgiving, Scott said after receiving the award.
That night, the church had eight guests stay at the warming center, but the church has seen as few as six and as many as 33 guests stay in the nights it has been open since, she said.
In total, Scott said the church has opened its doors to act as the city’s warming center for over 20 nights, of which 10 were in 2024. Wednesday night was the 14th consecutive night the warming center was open, she said.
Throughout this winter season, Wesley United Methodist Church has housed 98 different people and three families at the overnight warming center, according to Scott. She said each of those families has connected with case workers or community members to help get them additional shelter.
“I was mind-blown as I put these statistics together, and I’ve been present many nights,” she said.
Of the 98 people served, 79 were male and 19 were female, Scott said.
Also, 28 of those 98 people have not returned to the warming center since 2024, and the church “is hoping that means they’ve found other accommodations,” but also that means the warming center has housed 67 unique people since the new year started, she said.
Over one-third of all people who visited the warming center stayed for just a single night, according to Scott. She said 18 people have stayed two nights, while 19 people have stayed between three and five nights, 12 people have stayed for six to nine nights, and 11 people have stayed for 10 or more nights.
Several of the warming center’s “long-term guests,” meaning those that have stayed more than six nights, are now working with local organizations and residents to find more long-term housing solutions, according to Scott.
Over 30 different people have worked or volunteered to help make the warming center work, Scott said. Although the warming center is funded through a grant from the city, the church has also received donations of food along with hygiene and other care products from dozens of community members and organizations, she said.
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Wesley United Methodist Church also accepts online donations for the warming center, and nearly 50 community members have donated amounts ranging from $10 to $250, according to Scott. She said those donations allow the church to provide what’s needed for the warming center but above what the contract with the city provides, such as food and hygiene items.
The church has partnered with local organizations like AID, Aurora Mutual Aid, Hesed House and the Kane County Health Department for things like cleaning supplies, personal protective equipment, blankets, cots, floor beds and air purifiers, Scott said.
The church is also “engaged in conversations across agencies to connect guests with the care they need in obtaining IDs or medication, moving into Hesed House or other shelters, getting access to medical or mental health care and things like that,” she said.
“I think really this warming center has created a way for community members and organizations to come together in a powerful way,” Scott said.