Emergency shelters worked overtime to help homeless during ice storm and cold

It's Feb. 5. Church-based emergency shelter worked overtime, dipped into reserves to shield homeless from last week' cold. Pentagon weighs in on VMI's future. York County makes waves on no-wake zones.

Volunteer sets up beds at King of Glory Lutheran Church in this 2025 photo (Williamsburg Watch)

Last week’s ice storm and bitter cold was particularly hard on homeless people and the group that shelters them in our area.

Sixteen churches work with the Community of Faith Mission to provide overnight shelter and food for homeless people during the winter months from mid November to mid March.

But last week, the shelter had to remain open during the day Sunday and Monday, said COFM Executive Director Donnie McDaniel. And the mission had to use its reserve funds to pay for the extra expense and for hotels when one of the churches reached capacity.

The emergency shelter normally operates at night. The clients generally go to work or stay with friends and family during the day, McDaniel said. On particularly cold days, they can go to warming stations that open up in places like library and recreation centers., she said.

But the Williamsburg Area Transit Authority’s buses were unable to run right…