Knoxville Area Transit Partners with Knoxville–Knox County Housing Stability to Provide Free Rides to Warming Centers
Due to the extremely cold temperatures forecasted this week, Knoxville Area Transit (KAT) is partnering with the Knoxville–Knox County Office of Housing Stability to provide complimentary rides to warming centers through at least Sat., Jan. 11, 2025.
Passengers may begin requesting free rides to warming centers after 3:00 p.m. each afternoon. Passengers can take any route to get to the warming center of their choice, and when they board the bus, they need to notify the bus operator that they are requesting a free ride to a warming center.
“Providing free transportation to warming centers is a vital part of our mission to serve the Knoxville community,” said Isaac Thorne, Director of Transit for the City of Knoxville. “During these dangerously cold temperatures, ensuring access to warm and safe shelter can save lives, and KAT is committed to supporting this critical effort.”
Warming centers open on any night that the National Weather Service forecasts temperatures to drop below 25 degrees. As they have done since early December, four local churches will open their doors overnight to provide a warm, indoor space. In addition, there is a Homeless Shelter overflow site located at Salvation Army. Their schedules vary and are subject to change as forecasts develop.
The locations, and the KAT routes that can be taken to them, are as follows:
South:
Vestal United Methodist, 115 Ogle Ave
Opens at 5:00 p.m.
Take KAT Route 45: Vestal – exit Ogle @ Coffee, or exit Martin Mill Pike @ Moody
West:
Cokesbury Church, 9919 Kingston Pike
Opens at 7:00 p.m.
Take KAT Route 16: Middlebrook/ Cedar Bluff – exit Cedar Bluff before/ after Kingston Pike, then walk to Kingston Pike and go west. Cokesbury church is on the right just past Perimeter Park Rd
North:
Fountain City United Methodist, 212 Hotel Rd
Opens at 9:00 p.m.
Take KAT Route 22: Broadway – exit Broadway @ Hotel
East:
Magnolia Ave United Methodist, 2700 E Magnolia Ave
Opens at 5:00 p.m.
Take KAT Route 31: Magnolia – exit Magnolia @ Harrison
Homeless shelter overflow site:
Salvation Army, 409 N Broadway
Opens at 6:00 p.m.
Take KAT Route 22: Broadway – exit Broadway @ Depot, or exit Broadway @ 5th Ave
Take KAT Route 16: Middlebrook/ Cedar Bluff – exit 5th Ave @ Broadway, or exit 5th Ave @ Cooper
Participating churches rely on volunteers and donated supplies to operate these warming centers and the Knoxville-Knox County Office of Housing Stability is helping coordinate these efforts.
Volunteers are needed to deliver meals, set up cots, provide transportation to people who need to get to warming centers, check people in, or stay overnight. If you would like to volunteer for this community-wide effort, please see the site-specific contact information below:
Warming Center South: Vestal United Methodist Church, 115 Ogle Ave
To volunteer, please text AJ Jackson at 865-963-2661
Warming Center West: Cokesbury Church at 9919 Kingston Pike
To volunteer, please go to https://cokesbury.tv/warming and click the “Volunteer Interest” button
Warming Center North: Fountain City United Methodist Church, 212 Hotel Rd.
To volunteer, please go to https://www.fountaincityumc.org/north-knoxville-warming-center/
Warming Center East: Magnolia Avenue United Methodist Church, 2700 E. Magnolia Ave.
To volunteer, please text Kecia Armstrong at 865-228-0990
Homeless shelter overflow site: Salvation Army at 409 N Broadway
To volunteer, please go to https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4AAEA72BA2FBCF8-54179014-inneed#/
Supplies are also needed: new or gently used blankets, sleeping bags, gloves and hats; new toiletries and socks are especially appreciated. If you would like to donate supplies, please drop them off at Knox Area Rescue Ministries at 418 North Broadway. A dedicated trailer has been set up to hold warming center donations, so all donations meant for warming centers will be reserved for that effort. If you’d like more information please contact KARM at (865) 673-6540 or email info@karm.org.
