Pawtucket to open new warming station ahead of severe cold front

PAWTUCKET, R.I. (WLNE) — The city of Pawtucket announced that it will open the doors of a new warming shelter for this weekend.

The warming center will be available on an emergency basis at 1139 Main St.

It will open Friday, Feb. 3 at 7 a.m. through Monday, Feb. 6.

Additionally, the Pawtucket Soup Kitchen will prepare three fresh meals per day.

Due to fire safety restrictions, the building can only have 16 cots. However, there will be plenty of tables, chairs, and additional space for anyone to rest or have a meal.

Pawtucket Mayor Donald Grebien said the city is “incredibly relieved that this warming center will be open before the dangerous temperatures this weekend.”

The shelter will be ran and monitored by Brother Gary Dantzler, of Black Lives Matter Rhode Island, and the organizations’ volunteers.

The city and the Pawtucket Housing Authority have been working with the state for nearly a year to get the warming station up and running. A spokesperson for Mayor Grebien said the state is taking the lead on securing a permanent service provider.

The spokesperson added that a request for proposal process is expected to go out in the next few days.