Tupelo Salvation Army Will Limit When Cold Weather Shelter is Open

In years past, Tupelo Salvation Army has opened its cold weather shelter to protect those in need of shelter when temperatures reach freezing and below.

This year, however, the Salvation Army may not be able to open its doors as frequently or freely as it has in previous years.

According to Captain LeAnna Marion, rising utility costs as well as the rising need for security guards will prevent the cold weather shelter from being open, unless more money comes in to cover the costs of those added expenses.

The need for paid security guards has risen due to damages left by those using the shelter during last year’s winter season.

Marion said, “There were numerous times that we had to call the plumbing company. People were intentionally sticking plastic silverware, shirts, combs, different things down the plumbing.”

According to Marion, the cold weather shelter will now be open when the temperature reaches 20 degrees or lower, or when the governor declares a state of emergency.

Marion hopes that the funding issue will be resolved so that the shelter can return to its typical standard of being open at 32 degrees instead of 20 degrees.