Area offices that planned to be open through the end of the week began shutting down early on Wednesday night, in anticipation of dangerously cold wind chills on Thursday. Meanwhile, Buzz Birney with Live Like Jesus Today ministries was putting out a call for help and letting area people living without heat know that they could find a warm hotel room thanks to area donations.
Two years ago, Live Like Jesus Today established a warming shelter in advance of bitter cold. Birney said the building they used in February of 2021 is not available now and he doesn’t have a building that will work for that purpose.
“The best we can do is put people up in hotels,” he said.
He posted a plea for help Wednesday on the ministry’s Facebook page:
“URGENT NEED!!! We are looking for BUSINESSES, FAMILIES OR INDIVIDUALS that are willing to pay for a hotel room. There are families and individuals that need to be in a warm and safe place over the next 3 to 4 days! There is a very dangerous cold front coming through our area. If willing we need your name and contact number and as the needs arise we can contact you! THANK YOU FOR YOUR CARING HEART! MERRY CHRISTMAS!”
“We will help all we can,” Birney said, adding volunteers had talked to people who live under the Arkansas River bridge or in unheated, abandoned homes to let them know they could get rooms through Saturday. As of Wednesday afternoon, only four people had taken advantage of that but Birney was aware the numbers would likely go up as the temperature goes down.
Birney said they’ll probably need to see if meals can be donated by restaurants or if people will also pay for meals. Live Like Jesus Today is a nonprofit 501c3 organization so donations are tax-deductible.
LLJT works with other area agencies and ministries and has items available for those in need at its Kingdom Campus, located at 700 South Patton Road in Great Bend. Anyone in need of coats, blankets, sheets, pillows, socks, towels or cereal and receive these for free. People are advised to pull in the gate to the back of the warehouse.
Birney can be contacted by telephone at 620-397-3325. Donations can be made online at the website, LiveLikeJesusToday.com and email can be sent to LiveLikeJesusToday@gmail.com.
In the future, Birney said he hopes someone will donate a building that LLJT Ministries could use for a halfway house or transitional home, and perhaps double as a place to stay warm in extreme cold and cool in extreme heat.
Weather advisory
Kansas saw freezing drizzle and other weather hazards on Wednesday, which was also the first day of winter.
The National Weather Service office in Wichita issued a winter weather message that included Great Bend at noon Wednesday, saying it would remain in effect until 6 p.m. Thursday, with a wind chill warning in effect until 1 p.m. Friday.
For the Wind Chill Warning, dangerously cold wind chills were expected, as low as 35 below zero.
The Winter Weather Advisory anticipated freezing drizzle and snow. A glaze of ice was expected, with snow accumulations of up to one inch and winds gusting as high as 45 mph.
Motorists were advised to plan on slippery road conditions. Blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. The hazardous conditions could impact the morning or evening commute. The dangerously cold wind chills could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes.
Kansans were warned to avoid outside activities if possible.
• When outside, make sure you wear appropriate clothing, a hat, and gloves.
• Slow down and use caution while traveling.
• The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can be obtained by calling 5 1 1.
Closings
• The Barton County Treasurer’s Office announced Wednesday that it would close at the end of the day and would not reopen until 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 27. It was later announced that all county business operations will be closed on Thursday and will reopen on Tuesday.
• The Barton County Landfill will be closed to the public on Thursday. Combined with the holiday, the landfill will next be open on Monday, Dec. 26.
• Great Bend Public Library will be closed Thursday, in addition to earlier plans to be closed Friday through Monday.
• Great Bend Senior Center will be closed Thursday, with no general public transportation. There will be no friendship meals or Meals on Wheels. All scheduling will resume as normal on Friday.
• The KansasWorks Great Bend Workforce Center will be closed Thursday.
• The Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo will be closed Thursday and Friday due to the low temperatures forecasted. The zoo will also be closed on Saturday and Sunday for the Christmas holiday.
