MONROE COUNTY, Ga. — People in Monroe County can look to Juliette Road if they need a meal and a warm place to stay during the cold months.
Andrea Goolsby is part of the outreach program at New Beginnings Pentecostal Church in Forsyth. She said the church wants to help people by opening its doors to those who need shelter.
"I cannot fathom anybody freezing to death," Goolsby said.
Goolsby said the warming center is a continued idea from Hurricane Irma in 2017.
"We opened the fellowship hall here in the church to help people that were coming from out of state to have a place to stay and ever since then I've had a passion to want to help people that are less fortunate," Goolsby said.
Pastor Cody Fountain was surprised to hear there were people in the county who needed this resource.
"Our community has a whole lot more homeless than what we thought. Matter of fact, colonies 40 plus, and I was like amazed and shocked, you know, all at the same time to know that was under our nose the whole time and nobody's been ministering to them," Fountain said.
Goolsby said the space is for people who might be going through a hard time. She said the church is working with Monroe County Emergency Services and the Sheriff's Department.
"...And so both of those departments can provide transportation for individuals that may need to come out here," Goolsby said.
The news about the warming center was posted Tuesday and donations are already coming in.
"We've had already a lot of donations and offers and so we don't want them to pour in if we're not going to be able to use those resources right now, so but they are there if we need them," Goolsby said.
Fountain said the church is always looking for ways to help the village of Monroe County.
"You hear the saying 'it takes a village'. Well, Monroe County is a big county, but we're a village as a whole, and I feel like we all need to come together as a family and support those that need help," Fountain said.
The church plans to keep the center going all winter. If you'd like to donate, volunteer, or use the warming center you can call the church at 478-808-2951.