Local groups report near‑capacity shelter and new warming‑station hours as Aiken heads into winter

Multiple community speakers at Aiken’s Nov. 10 council meeting described expanded winter‑shelter and warming‑station efforts as temperatures fall.

Curt Johnson (Speaker 6), a community volunteer, corrected a previously cited overdoses figure and told council, "For October, we do have 291 over suspected overdoses, but there was only 1 fatality out of all that," and described Narcan distribution into the community as helping reduce fatalities. He also said church groups and a C4 Impact warming station will provide warm drinks, soups and charging stations and requested donations of cup soups, ramen, and hand warmers.

Lex Perry (Speaker 11), pastor with C4 Impact, gave a fuller update on shelter placements and services: he said partnerships (including with CMSG/Legacy Group led by Shania Butler) had secured housing that would shelter a single mother and four children by the next day, and C4 was nearly at capacity. He described C4’s warming‑station schedule — Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 5–7 p.m. — with coffee, hot chocolate, soup and services including laundry, showers and computer access for residents seeking help.

Staff confirmed city warming stations are available at the Smith Hazel Center and Lehi Price Center during normal business hours (staff noted hours for day‑use shelters), and council members acknowledged the larger community role of churches and nonprofits.

Next steps: Council did not take formal action on these comments but staff and service providers appear positioned to continue coordination; volunteers requested donations and contact information was shared in the meeting.