Homeless fill up shelters, trying to escape the cold

Local shelters need your help to keep people warm during this winter storm. Nbc 6 news reporter Karen Hopkins spoke with people literally trying to survive by escaping the dangerous cold.

“I'd much rather be here than out there when it's freezing,"
Christopher Dees says. With the freezing, dangerous, temperatures, the Shreveport Bossier Rescue Mission and Salvation Army shelters are filling up. Both centers expect dozens of more people to come in over the next few days.
“A lot of people are coming in now have disabilities. They come in without coats and freezing," Pete Carnes says.

Local shelters are setting up rows of cots to give people a warm place to stay. “We started with 18 now we have 40 cots.” If more shelter is needed, the Red Cross will set up warming centers at local churches or schools. "We're not going to turn anyone away in this type of weather." KC Kilpatrick Stone says.

“Having a warm place is really great. I got a lot of friends living on the street they tell me every day how cold it is and how much of a blessing it is to be here," Dees says.

Because outside, each winter homeless people die on the streets from the cold, suffering from frostbite or hypothermia. “I believe it is a true blessing we can provide places like this for people less fortunate with no place to go.”

The Rescue Mission needs more blankets, pillow cases, to keep people warm. You can donate by dropping items off here at 901 McNeil Street. Or you can pledge money online at this link: http://www.sbrescuemission.com/donate.php