ALLENTOWN, Pa. – Inside the Allentown YMCA’s Warming Center, donations from food to board games are pouring in ahead of the snow.
“We’ve had people show up at the door all afternoon,” said Tiffany Henning, River Crossing YMCA executive branch director.
Henning is among the YMCA workers making sure donations are ready for when people seek shelter here.
“It’s just so heartwarming and we thank everyone from the bottom of our hearts on how they’re helping us help the unhoused in our community,” said Henning.
The YMCA is expanding its capacity making sure everyone is out of the snow.
“Our normal capacity is 80 individuals and we’ve increased that capacity to 120 with the help of community partners coming in,” said Tami Unger, River Crossing YMCA branch director.
Unger said it is not just people who they are helping escape the snow.
The Lehigh Valley Humane Society is here to help pets too.
“They’ll take care of the pets for the unsheltered, we’ll take care of the adults,” said Unger.
Teisha Jones is with the Lehigh Valley Humane Society and is here to help any pets with nowhere to call home.
“There are a number of unhoused pets, but we’re not sure what they turnout is going to be for today,” said Jones.
She said pets will likely be at the shelter through Tuesday morning.
“We’ll be intaking them here and then transporting them back to the shelter where we have the mobile shelter setup,” said Jones.
YMCA workers said they are still accepting item donations here tonight for people who will be staying at the shelter.