Salvation Army Helps Homeless Beat Heat

Cold water and air conditioning are things we can easily take for granted in the hot summer months.
For those who don’t have a place to call home, any relief makes a big difference.

“While you’re here it’s good. It keeps you from being in the heat, get your mind right besides getting in trouble. The heat, you’ll do anything to avoid the heat while you’re out there,” said Chris Terrell.

“They give out food, water, make sure people eat, get nourishments, and then they let me work here. They come through for me and help me a lot and I love them to death,” said Eric Boswell.

Terrell and Boswell stay at the Salvation Army shelter in Montgomery.

As the summer begins, Jason Davis says the group is changing up their routine to help even more people in need.

“We’re expecting things to pick up and we’re taking the proper steps to get people out of the environment to a safe place. So we’re looking for things to step up and each year it steps up quite a bit around this time and we’re prepared for it,” said Davis, Montgomery Salvation Army Social Services Director.

This weekend could see the heat index hit triple digits.

That means it’s time to turn the salvation army into a cooling station.

“We operate it every year, when there’s a heat advisory we open up our doors. This weekend we’re actually going to open up the shelter for individuals for this weekend when the heat advisory comes. We hope that they come watch TV, drink a cool drink, and stay out that hot weather,” said Davis.