Overnight Warming Center (OWC)

Mission Statement

The Overnight Warming Center (OWC) of UUCD is a social justice ministry of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of DeKalb. The OWC mission is to provide a safe, warm, and welcoming overnight haven for individuals and families who are unhoused and without adequate heat, and to providie them with a sense of belonging. 

History

In January, 2024, the UUCD Board approved opening a free Overnight Warming Center in response to a proposal from Marreen Buntaine, Director of the Community Empowerment Campaign, and Dan Kenney, a member of the congregation. Since then, the OWC has offered services to unhoused individuals and those without adequate heating during the coldest nights of the year.

Last season (2025), the OWC had the following impact:

•  1,112 individuals were served with food or warm overnight stays.

• 328 received meals only

• 910 overnight stays

• 46 unique individuals received overnight warmth

• 41 unique individuals received meals only.

• Each of the 73 nights breakfast was provided the next morning as well as food for lunches.

• 87 unique individuals received services

• 2 families stayed in the OWC

• 1 child was born to a couple while staying there.

This Year

•  The Center will be open from 5:30pm to 8:15am starting January 3, 2026 and will close on March 15.
• Additional leadership and organizational structures have been put in place since last year to improve the experiences of both guests and volunteers.

For any questions about the Center or how  to get involved, please contact the UUCD OWC Board Liaison E Woodruff at elisa.woodruff@gmail.com
or email the Warming Center Manager Ann Wilson at uucd.owc@gmail.com.