Warming centers opened as brutal cold arrives

This weekend's dangerous temperatures has local officials opening warming centers for those in need.

A Code Blue is in effect in Camden meaning anyone without a place to stay can head to one of two warming centers.

A Code Blue emergency takes effect Saturday across Camden County.

And in Delaware, a Code Purple will be in effect across all three counties.

Shelters in New Castle and Sussex Counties will be open through Monday, while Kent County shelters will be open through Tuesday.

In Camden, the warming centers are:

New Life Community Development Corporation

1721 Haddon Ave.

Camden, N.J. 08103

Joseph's House of Camden

555 Atlantic Ave.

Camden, NJ 08105

The warming centers for Delaware are:

Wilmington: The lead agency for Code Purple in New Castle County is Friendship House, which operates two Code Purple winter sanctuary programs - one in Wilmington and the other in Newark through the Newark Empowerment Center. The Wilmington program is operated in collaboration with the Salvation Army and has been housing as many as 150 people nightly this week. Beside the Friendship/Salvation Army winter sanctuary program, the Sunday Breakfast Mission offers overnight shelter to both men and women.

The Salvation Army has extended Code Purple for tonight through Sunday night. Here is the schedule:

Friday

-2:30-8:30 p.m. Friday: Church of Saints Andrew and Matthew, 720 N. Orange St. entrance, Wilmington (daytime sanctuary)

-9 p.m. Friday-6 a.m. Saturday: Salvation Army, 400 N. Orange St. (men) and 104 W. Fifth St. (women), overnight shelter

Saturday

-5:30 a.m.-11a.m.: First and Central Presbyterian Church, 1101 N. Market St. (11th Street entrance), Wilmington (daytime sanctuary)

-2:30-8:30 p.m. Friday: Episcopal Church of Saints Andrew and Matthew, 720 N. Orange St. entrance, Wilmington (daytime sanctuary)

-9 p.m. Saturday-6 a.m. Sunday: Salvation Army, 400 N. Orange St. (men) and 104 W. Fifth St. (women), overnight shelter Sunday

-5:30 a.m.-8 a.m.: Episcopal Church of Saints Andrew and Matthew, 720 N. Orange St. entrance, Wilmington (daytime sanctuary)

-8-11 a.m. Trinity Episcopal Church, 11th and Adams streets, TRIAD Meeting Room (daytime sanctuary)

-2:30-8:30 p.m. Friday: Episcopal Church of Saints Andrew and Matthew, 720 N. Orange St. entrance, Wilmington (daytime sanctuary)

-9 p.m. Sunday-6 a.m. Monday: Salvation Army, 400 N. Orange St. (men) and 104 W. Fifth St. (women), overnight shelter

Sunday

-5:30 a.m.-8 a.m.: Episcopal Church of Saints Andrew and Matthew, 720 N. Orange St. entrance, Wilmington (daytime sanctuary)

-8-11 a.m. Trinity Episcopal Church, 11th and Adams streets, TRIAD Meeting Room (daytime sanctuary)

-2:30-8:30 p.m. Friday: Episcopal Church of Saints Andrew and Matthew, 720 N. Orange St. entrance, Wilmington (daytime sanctuary)

-9 p.m. Sunday-6 a.m. Monday: Salvation Army, 400 N. Orange St. (men) and 104 W. Fifth St. (women), overnight shelter

Monday

-5:30 a.m.-noon: Friendship House Men's Center, 226 N. Walnut St., Third Street entrance (daytime sanctuary)

-6:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.: Friendship House Women's Center, 720 N. Orange St. (daytime sanctuary)

Newark: Friendship House will open its Code Purple sanctuary from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Friday through Sunday nights in church space provided by eight different Newark faith communities on a rotating basis. People who are homeless must register at the Newark Empowerment Center at 69 E. Main St. on Friday. The Newark shelter is already operating at capacity, serving 36 people a night, so any individuals who cannot be accommodated in Newark will be provided transportation to Wilmington.

Kent County: Code Purple is in effect through the morning of Feb. 21. The Code Purple status can be determined by calling 1-800-733-6816 to listen to a pre-recorded message, which is updated frequently, and will identify Code Purple sites that are open in Kent County. Please note that the transportation for men to Wyoming Church requires that all guests be at Dover Interfaith by 4:30 p.m., with the bus leaving at 5 p.m. Only one trip will be made so please spread the word about the time. The bus will return guests the following morning back to Interfaith. The schedule for Friday through Monday nights:

Friday

-Wyoming United Methodist Church, 216 Wyoming Mill Road, Dover, opens at 5 p.m. (men only)

-Dover Interfaith Mission, 684 Forest St., Dover (overflow for men)

-Centennial United Methodist Church, 44 E. Mount Vernon St., Smyrna, opens at 5 p.m. (men only)

-Milford Community Center, 105 N.E. Front St., Milford, opens at 5 p.m. (women and children)

-Christ Church, 523 S. State St. Dover, opens at 5 p.m. (women and children)

-Smyrna Wesleyan, 433 W. Commerce St., Smyrna, opens at 5 p.m. (women and children)

Saturday

-Dover Presbyterian Church, 54 S. State St., Dover (entrance is on Reed Street), opens at 5 p.m. (men only)

-Dover Interfaith Mission, 684 Forest St., Dover (overflow for men)

-Centennial United Methodist Church, 44 E. Mount Vernon St., Smyrna, opens at 5 p.m. (men only)

-Milford Community Center, 105 N.E. Front St., Milford, opens at 5 p.m. (women and children)

-Christ Church, 523 S. State St. Dover, opens at 5 p.m. (women and children)

-Smyrna Wesleyan, 433 W. Commerce St., Smyrna, opens at 5 p.m. (women and children)

Sunday

-Dover Presbyterian Church, 54 S. State St., Dover (entrance is on Reed Street), opens at 5 p.m. (men only)

-Dover Interfaith Mission, 684 Forest St., Dover (overflow for men)

-Centennial United Methodist Church, 44 E. Mount Vernon St., Smyrna, opens at 5 p.m. (men only)

-Milford Community Center, 105 N.E. Front St., Milford, opens at 5 p.m. (women and children)

-Christ Church, 523 S. State St. Dover, opens at 5 p.m. (women and children)

-myrna Wesleyan, 433 W. Commerce St., Smyrna, opens at 5 p.m. (women and children)

Monday

-Dover Presbyterian Church, 54 S. State St., Dover (entrance is on Reed Street), opens at 5 p.m. (men only)

-Dover Interfaith Mission, 684 Forest St., Dover (overflow for men)

-Centennial United Methodist Church, 44 E. Mount Vernon St., Smyrna, opens at 5 p.m. (men only)

-Milford Community Center, 105 N.E. Front St., Milford, opens at 5 p.m. (women and children)

-Calvary Baptist Church, Fulton and New streets, Dover, opens at 5 p.m. (women and children)

-Smyrna Wesleyan, 433 W. Commerce St., Smyrna, opens at 5 p.m. (women and children)

Champions and strong supporters of Code Purple in Kent County include Rebecca Martin, Diane Kaskeski and Allan Angel. For questions, call 1-800-733-6816 or email codepurpledelaware@yahoo.com. Or visit the new website, www.codepurplekentcounty.com. Volunteers are needed. Please email codepurpledelaware@yahoo.com.

Sussex County: All Code Purple shelters in Sussex County will be open Friday through Sunday nights. Eastern Sussex operates cold-weather shelters that remain open until spring regardless of the temperature. For updates in Western Sussex, call the hotline at 302-519-0024 or email sussexcodepurple@gmail.com.

Western Sussex:

-St. Luke's Parish House, 202 N. North St., Seaford (double-door entrance on King Street), opens at 7 p.m.

-Laurel Nazarene, 94 Walnut St., Laurel, opens at 7 p.m. (men only)

-Gateway Fellowship, 8110 Cannon Road, Bridgeville, opens at 8:30 p.m. (women and children only). Transportation will be provided from Pathway Shelter after dinner as needed.

-Mount Olivet United Methodist Church, 315 High St., Seaford, opens at 7 p.m.

Central Sussex: Milford Community Center, 105 N.E. Front St., Milford. Sanctuary for women and children only. This shelter is available to people in Kent or Sussex. Call 302-725-0770. Georgetown Presbyterian, 203 N. Bedford St., Georgetown. Call Pastor Mike at 302-344-1912 or leave a message at the church at 302-856-6842. Sanctuary is open for extreme weather, but you must call ahead because of limited availability.

Eastern Sussex: Shelters are open and will remain open until spring, regardless of the temperature. Immanuel Shelter, 37439 Oyster House Road, Rehoboth Beach. Open seven days from 4:30 p.m.-7:30 a.m. Serving men and women. Uses both Conley's Chapel and Faith UMC Fellowship for Code Purple. Call to verify location at 1-888-634-9992. Soul Ministry, Bethany Beach. Sanctuary operates daily for men and women with support from Christian Community of Churches. 302-632-4289. Day Center: Rehoboth Community Resource Center (CRC) is open to people who are homeless during the day. 302-227-1340.