GASTONIA, N.C. — Gaston County and the city of Gastonia are working together to open a warming station as the cold weather moves in.
The station will be at the Gastonia Farmer's Market located at 410 E. Long Ave. It will be open Friday night, and going forward on nights when the temperature is projected to hit 32 degrees or lower. On nights that the center is open, it is available from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
This is the third year the county and city have operated a warming center.
The county and city have also collaborated with the United Way of Gaston County and faith-based partners to provide resources at the shelter like volunteer staffing as well as law enforcement presence for security.
People do not need to provide proof of identification in order to stay at the warming station.
The shelter's opening comes in the wake of the closure of the Salvation Army's Center of Hope Shelter, which ceased shelter operations earlier this year. The cold weather shelter used to be operated by the city and county at that Salvation Army shelter.