What We Do
We open a temporary, pop-up, overnight shelter when temperatures are expected to fall below 30 degrees on consecutive nights and remain cold throughout the daytime hours. Anyone experiencing homeless in Wilmington, NC is welcome to stay overnight for warmth, comfort and safety – no questions asked.
THANK YOU to the over 900 volunteers who worked in the active shelter and provided hospitality and care to our unhoused neighbors in the 24/25 season! BIG LOVE to the community of Wilmington who showed up with donations and resources!!!
Support our Mission
The Warming Shelter is a ministry of Hope Recovery UMC (who serves as the organizer and fiscal agent for the initiative. Hope Recovery NC EIN# 85-2511081). The shelter is hosted at Grace UMC. Both churches are affiliated organizations included in the North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church and fall under the United Methodist Church IRS Group Ruling as a 501(c)3.
In the 24/25 season, our initiative saw a drastic increase in the number of nights open – a TOTAL of 34 nights! The number of people seeking help was up 30% from previous years.
Our Values
No Judgement
Warm Beds for the unsheltered and those who do not have adequate resources for cold weather survival (living in sheds, cars, etc) . We are NO QUESTIONS ASKED. There is a lack of overnight, emergency shelter beds in our community and we also respect the many reasons why people can’t or won’t stay in local emergency homeless shelters: trauma, anxiety in group living situations, fear of harm, mental or physical health conditions, criminal records, pet owners who won’t abandon their animals.
Radical Hospitality
We care for the immediate needs by providing warm cots, blankets, hot meals and all-night snacks to our guests. The Warming Shelter offers a non-judgement zone of safety to cultivate an environment of relaxation and peace. Our motive is simply to provide warmth and welcome. We are a temporary, triage effort – the permanent solution to homelessness is AFFORDABLE HOUSING! We care about this issue deeply!
Community
Come volunteer with us! The Warming Shelter is organized by local Wilmington congregations of The United Methodist Church, in partnership with neighboring churches, homeless-services agencies, local non-profits, business owners and community partners.
We are a fully volunteer led, grant and donation funded initiative who deeply believes in caring for our neighbors in a spirit of mutual concern and compassion, which fosters deep togetherness.
Faces of The Warming Shelter Portrait Project
Photographed by Anna Mann
Meet The Warming Shelter ILM Community!
About
Our mission is to provide warmth, comfort and safety to our homeless neighbors during extreme cold-weather by providing cots, blankets, meals and supportive services to our guests.
We host a non-judgement zone to cultivate an environment of relaxation and peace. Our motive is simply to provide warmth and welcome – no questions asked.
Our shelter is volunteer-staffed so many people are needed over the course of our active shelter in a variety of roles and jobs.
Our Work Continues Year Round!
The REAL Homeless Herald of ILM, NC monthly publication is written by persons with the lived experience of homelessness in order to platform their own ignored voices in our community!
