The Edmundite Missions opened up warming stations ahead of the winter weather advisory issued Monday to serve the needs of those in Selma who might otherwise be without a warm place to take shelter.

The local group opened up its Bosco Nutrition Center to house people in need, a move it takes any time the weather is predicted to drop below freezing, and has also offered assistance with hotel vouchers for those who are homeless or living in unsuitable conditions.

“The Edmundite Missions has spent the last 80 years protecting the dignity of those in poverty by providing for their basic human needs,” Edmundite Missions President and CEO Chad McEachern said. “We simply cannot allow our brothers and sisters to remain out in the cold if we have a warm place to offer them with snacks and drinks to drive away the chill.”

McEachern said the group will see hundreds of people coming in and out of the center as long as the weather remains so cold and, at the end of each day, droves of homeless men and women will show up in hopes of securing a hotel voucher.

“As always, Bosco’s doors are open to everyone,” McEachern said. “While we do provide for Selma’s homeless population, we’ll also see the working poor and those who are under-homed. living in structures that don’t adequately protect them from this frigid winter.”

McEachern noted that cold weather is not the only indicator that springs the group into action – during the summer months, the group offers assistance to people whenever the temperature gets above 95 degrees.

Additionally, through its Meals of Hope program, the Edmundite Missions has been able to identify at-risk seniors and provide them with safe shelter during extreme weather situations.

“The Edmundite Missions is truly a community resource and our clients feel a sense of ownership and pride related to our services and our campus,” McEachern said. “When the weather becomes life-threatening, they come home, they come to a place they feel safe.”