'Stay warm': Kingsport groups provide shelter during winter weather

KINGSPORT — The Table of Kingsport's mission is not, technically, to be a warming center. It's to host free weekly dinners, building community among its 120 attendees each Monday. But as the weather turns colder — especially with this weekend's storm — the organization has pivoted to shelter the homeless and underhoused. "If there's no place for these people in this weather, they're just not going to make it," Melissa Malcolm, The Table's founding pastor, said. Their building at 510 Gibson Mill Road, called "The Corner," has been open as a warming center for the past several days, and will continue until Jan. 31. It is open roughly from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Table also provides food at the center. Malcolm said the warming center has seen around 50 people a day. Most attendees are homeless, while one-third have homes with issues such as a holey roof. Everyone is welcome. Volunteers and donations are needed. Jeff Kiser's Shepherd's Watch Ministry will also operate two heated buses throughout the weekend and beyond. The buses, a tour bus and a school bus, have food and cots for people to rest in. "As long as I'm in this town, [people are] going to stay warm," Kiser said. "I've done this for the last four years. As long as I'm able, they're going to stay warm and fed." Kiser gives out food every day and runs nightly routes, picking up those in need of shelter. His phone number is 423-579-2752. "[Anyone] can call me 24/7, if they see anybody out, anytime of the night," Kiser said. "I will answer it, and get them somewhere. Even if our buses are full, we will get them to shelter." Later next week, the ministry will have a brick-and-mortar building as a day shelter. They will also host drug counseling classes, church services and other aid programs. The Salvation Army, located at 505 Dale St., will have its base shelter open daily from 4 p.m. to 8 a.m. It will expand its capacity in the coming days for its "white flag" nights, when temperatures fall below 35 degrees. A Salvation Army representative said they will provide a bed, blanket, pillow and food to people until resources run out. According to previous reporting, the base shelter has 40 beds: 15 for women, 15 for men and the rest for two family units. People must show some kind of identification for access. A person listed on the sexual offender registry will not be allowed entry.