Durham Rallies to Shelter Homeless Before Winter Storm

Inside a Durham warehouse on Thursday, volunteers sorted mountains of Cheerios boxes, canned goods, diapers, and hand warmers with one urgent goal: get unhoused neighbors safely through this weekend's winter storm. What started as a Wednesday night call for help had turned into a warehouse overflowing with donations just 24 hours later.

Three local organizations—the city's HEART team, Durham Community Care Collective, and Day One Relief—mobilized the emergency effort after forecasters predicted severe winter weather starting Saturday. Together, they're creating an emergency shelter at 311 Dowd Street with space for 52 people, plus backup generators for existing shelters in case power fails.

"Whenever there's a disaster, we activate," said Jil Christensen, who leads Day One Relief. "So we're activating for Durham."

The groups spread the word through social media and neighborhood listservs Wednesday night. By Thursday, cars lined up outside the warehouse as Durhamites dropped off hundreds of items, from protein bars to baby supplies.

Volunteer Sarah Ball-Damberg checked expiration dates while others bagged supplies for delivery. Graduate student Mia Lee, who donated breakfast bars and cereal, said she jumped at the chance to help because the community's response inspired her.

"It's been really cool to see the community come out and support each other," Lee said. "Everyone's all hands on deck."

Personal chef Anne Everitt brought diapers, canned protein, and fruit Thursday, and planned to return Friday for more volunteer shifts. She'd worked with these same groups in November during a different crisis and said helping others beats worrying alone at home.

The emergency shelter opens Friday at 7 p.m. and runs through Thursday morning, giving vulnerable residents a warm, safe place with hot meals for nearly a week. Volunteers will bag and deliver supplies right up until the storm hits Saturday.

The Ripple Effect

This collaboration started in November when the same three groups worked together during immigration raids in the Triangle. That crisis response built relationships that made this week's rapid mobilization possible. Now they have a playbook for future emergencies.

"We have the resources and the care already in our community to take care of each other," said Magan Gonzales-Smith, coordinator with Durham Public Schools Strong. If the storm turns out less severe than predicted, organizers will deliver the donated supplies to community groups serving families in need.

The warehouse stays open for donations through Saturday at 3 p.m., but the real story is already written: when Durham's most vulnerable neighbors needed help, their community showed up in force.