With the impending heat wave set to send temperatures close to 40°C, cooling centres are opening in Oliver and Osoyoos with particular concern for the elderly, those with pre-existing medical conditions and the estimated 235 people living out of doors locally.
The warming centre in Oliver opened ahead of the coming cold snap, with its first day of operation on Wednesday, Jan. 10. The warming centre is run by the Oliver Missions Society and is hosted by the Seventh Day Adventist Church located at 748 Similkameen Ave. in Oliver.
The Oliver Missions Society is shifting its focus from the warming centres of the winter months, and all the needs that come with the bitter cold to the needs of spring and summer.
The extreme cold weather this week has seen temperatures plummet to lows of nearly -20C highlighting the importance of warming centres and shelters.
On Nov. 28 council agreed to give the Seventh-Day Adventist Church the funds for its warming centre to help those in need.
The Knights of Columbus in Oliver expect to provide more than 200 hampers during its Christmas campaign this year. Coordinator Wayne Danbrook said the need continues to be high as evidenced by how busy the Oliver Food Bank is.
There is no other way to put it: Volunteers are what keep the community of Oliver alive. That was evident during the Spirit of Oliver Awards ceremony at the community centre August. 19.
