Photo L-R: Kate Cohen, YMCA VP of development for Lehigh Valley region, Craig Evans, Joyce Gobrecht, and Bill White from First Presbyterian Church of Allentown, and Tami Unger, YMCA director of operations for the Allentown branch. (Photo courtesy of River Crossing YMCA)

ALLENTOWN – River Crossing YMCA opened the Allentown Warming Station for its seventh year on Friday November 15. Located at the YMCA branch at 425 15th St. in Allentown, the Warming Station provides overnight shelter, showers and meals in a safe place through April 15 for those experiencing homelessness in the community.

The YMCA Allentown Warming Station, which can accommodate 60 guests per night from 7:00PM-7:00AM, welcomes guests to arrive 7:00PM-9:00PM seven nights a week. The Warming Station is the only shelter in the city. The Warming Station is also the only place in Allentown that offers free supper meals for adults every evening, including Sundays. Guests are also offered weekly health services provided by Valley Health Partners’ Street Medicine Program, Treatment Trends and Valley Youth House’s Project Silk. These partners offer physical and mental health services, as well as resources for support.

“River Crossing YMCA’s Allentown Warming Station exemplifies what is possible when nonprofit organizations, governmental business partners and faith-based groups come together to provide community solutions,” shared Kate Cohen, VP of development for River Crossing YMCA’s Lehigh Valley region. “We are very grateful to our collaborative partners for the services they offer Warming Station guests, as well as our foundational community partners for essential funding required to operate the Warming Station.”

Foundational community partners include City Center of Allentown, City of Allentown, County of Lehigh and First Presbyterian Church of Allentown.

During the 2023-2024 season, the Y’s Allentown Warming Station served 287 unique individuals and over 5,700 total meals to unhoused neighbors. To donate items needed for Warming Station guests, please visit the Y’s in-kind donations wish list on Amazon. For additional information, please visit https://ymcarivercrossing.org/pathways/allentown-warming-station or call 610.351.9622.

 

River Crossing YMCA (formerly YMCA of Bucks and Hunterdon Counties and Greater

Valley YMCA) is a charitable, nonprofit organization committed to strengthening

communities through membership and programs that foster youth development,

healthy living and social responsibility for all. Annually, the Y serves over 142,000 members and participants at its 12 member branches, 13 early childhood centers, 20 summer camp locations and 37 school age child care programs. River Crossing YMCA provides over $12 million of community impact annually in the form of financial assistance to individuals and families in need and free programming for veterans, cancer survivors, older adults and more. To learn more visit ymcarivercrossing.org.

Information provided to TVL by:
Michael Reisman