Lee County prepares to keep community warm this New Year's

Lee County Government and its partner agencies activated their cold-weather outreach plan this week as temperatures cool.

Lee County Department of Human & Veteran Services, along with Lee County Transit and other partners, coordinated efforts to provide resources and shelter for those in need.

The Salvation Army offered a limited number of single beds on a first-come, first-served basis starting Tuesday, Dec. 30, through the morning of Thursday, Jan. 1, at 2400 Edison Avenue in Fort Myers. Individuals were encouraged to arrive for intake between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Tuesday.

Housing, Outreach and Treatment teams were active in the community on Tuesday, distributing cold-weather supplies like jackets, socks, blankets and hand warmers to individuals experiencing homelessness.

On Wednesday, Dec. 31, LeeTran provided warming buses at various locations:

6 a.m. - 8 a.m., Rosa Parks Transfer Station (2250 Widman Way, Fort Myers, FL 33919)

6 a.m. - 10 a.m., Lehigh Acres Park & Ride (1121 Village Lakes Blvd., Lehigh Acres, FL 33972)

6 a.m. - 10 a.m., Cape Coral Transfer Station (820 SE 47th Terrace, Cape Coral, FL 33904)

Warming stations and mobile warming stations were also available on Wednesday at multiple locations across the county:

8 a.m. - noon, Dunbar United Way Resiliency Hub at Community Cooperative (3429 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Fort Myers, FL 33916)

9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Tice United Way Resiliency Hub at Goodwill Industries (5100 Tice St., Fort Myers, FL 33905)

9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Charleston Park United Way Resiliency Hub - Goodwill Industries (2541 Charleston Park Drive, Alva, FL 33920)

8 a.m. - 12 p.m., Harlem Heights United Way Resiliency Hub at The Heights Center (15570 Hagie Drive, Fort Myers, FL 33908)

9 a.m. - 1 p.m., West Cape Coral United Way Resiliency Hub at Goodwill Industries (1499 SW. Pine Island Rd., Cape Coral, FL 33991)

9 a.m. - 3 p.m., South Fort Myers United Way Resiliency Hub at Jewish Family Services (9701 Commerce Center Court, Fort Myers, FL 33908)

Mobile warming station will also be available on Wednesday at the following places, offering warmth and distributing supplies:

8:30 a.m. - 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Lions Park (2550 Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers, FL 33901)

8:30 a.m. - 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Rosa Parks Transfer Station (2250 Widman Way, Fort Myers, FL 33919)

8:30 a.m. - 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Edison Mall Transfer Station (4125 Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers, FL 33901)

8:30 a.m. - 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., South Fort Myers Transfer Station (13182 S Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers, FL 33907)

Additionally, the Reach app by Lee County Human & Veteran Services provided timely updates and information for individuals experiencing homelessness. The app is available for free download on the Apple App Store and Google Play.