Winter is Coming: New Thermal Shelter Options in the New River Valley

As temperatures drop, thermal shelters offer a secure, heated space with basic necessities and overnight support for adults.

For several years, New River Community Action’s To Our House program has partnered with rotating volunteer churches, hosting up to 14 adults for two weeks at a time and providing evening meals.

This winter, Rest & Rise Pulaski, modeled after To Our House, expands support in Pulaski County starting December 15th with a ribbon cutting at Anderson Memorial Presbyterian Church. A collaborative effort led by Terrie Sternberg of the Pulaski Ministerial Association, Patricia Wheaton of Instill Mindfulness, and the NRV Recovery Ecosystem’s Housing Technical Team, it will host up to 10 Pulaski-based adults in rotating volunteer church sites.

Rooted in faith, service, and community care, Rest & Rise Pulaski provides temporary shelter, comfort, and resource connections for individuals experiencing homelessness, helping them rise toward a more stable future.

For accommodation inquiries for either program, call NRCA’s Intake Hotline at (540) 320-1273.