By Angeles Ponpa
PEORIA, Ill. (25 News) – Leaders of a Peoria non-profit said that they have already begun to see residents coming into their building to try and beat the heat, starting Sunday night into Monday.
Dream Center Peoria, the faith-based not-for-profit located in downtown Peoria, opened the doors as a 24/7 cooling center for any family or single adult in the area, but also for those in need of other heat related necessities this summer.
For those looking to cool off, there are no qualifications or questions asked.
Women, children and parenting dads are welcomed into the fourth-floor lounging area where there are air conditioning, couches and chairs.
Single men are welcomed on the first floor any time of the day and utilize the entrance of the Dream Center’s Housing lobby to sit in air-conditioning.
More cooling centers in Central Illinois
For anyone in need of cool clothing for summer, the center has free clothes for any age and size. Shoes are limited to one person. The next date the shop will be open is Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
“We have water- ice water- and we have cool rags,” said Kristy Schofield, Director of Homeless and Housing at Dream Center Peoria. “Cool down, come in. Sit in the air conditioning. We have lunch, dinner- if you need to shower. We have cooler clothes if that’s something you need, in our ‘Hope Store.’”
Other cooling stations, but with limited hours, include the Peoria Police Department Lobby, located on 600 SW Adams Street, which is open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
All Peoria Fire Department stations can also be used as a cooling center. They are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, but visitors must leave when firefighters attend an active call.
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