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Raleigh church to open doors Friday night for homeless ahead of Hurricane Ian
RALEIGH, N.C. — A Baptist church is opening its doors Friday night for people experiencing homelessness as Hurricane Ian moves toward the Carolinas.
Pullen Memorial Baptist Church at 1801 Hillsborough St. plans to open its doors at 4 p.m. Friday and people can stay until 8 a.m. Saturday.
St. John’s Metropolitan Community Church is leading the effort. The church is expected to provide staffing and volunteers. Pastor Vance Haywood said he’s worked with Pullen Memorial Baptist in the past.
“There was nowhere to go,” Haywood said. “If Pullen Memorial Baptist hadn’t stepped up, people would have no place to go.”
Wake County is expected to provide Pullen Memorial Baptist with cots.
From 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, people can also go to Oak City Cares at 1430 South Wilmington St.
Pullen Memorial Baptist leadership saw Monday’s WRAL News report about how there was not a county-sponsored place for people without homes to seek shelter from the elements.
“They saw the story, and that put some increased attention on the situation to get us immediate help,” Haywood said.
Haywood said the church is still working to find a White Flag shelter with the winter season approaching.
“We have gotten several leads,” Haywood said. “We are trying to talk with several faith communities, and see if we can open up several locations.”
In the winter, White Flag nights are those when the temperature or windchill is expected to be below 35 degrees.
As of 5 p.m. ET Thursday, Ian is a category 1 hurricane. Ian is taking aim at the Carolinas and Georgia with life-threatening flooding, storm surge and strong winds.