Puerto Seguro warming station tackles cold snap

With winter temperatures settling in, the Puerto Seguro Safe Harbor warming station in Socorro is preparing for what could become one of its most in-need seasons yet.

Puerto Seguro operates its overnight warming station whenever temperatures are predicted to drop below a certain threshold. During the last week of November, that trigger was anything under 40 degrees, but with nightly lows now dipping into the 20s, the nonprofit is weighing how to stretch its limited resources.

“Because the forecast has been really weird lately, we’ve had to adjust,” Puerto Seguro Board President Shay Kelley said.

She said that without additional volunteers and monetary support they will likely have to lower the November trigger temperature to stay within the 40 nights of service the City of Socorro is currently funding.

To fill the funding gaps for among the community’s most vulnerable, Puerto Seguro is urgently seeking volunteers and financial contributions to keep the warming station open during the season’s harshest winter nights.

“For right now, because the cold is still kind of a shock to folks, we’re going to be open for the next seven nights for sure, and then later on, as we get into December and January, we’ll lower that trigger temperature, probably,” said Kelley.

However, with a little help from the community, Kelley believes doors can stay open longer to offer a safe haven for the cold and hungry, without temperatures needing to drop to deadly lows.

“The overhead is really what gets us,” Kelley said. “If we run out of staffing funds, we can still stay open with volunteers—if we have them.”

Inside the warming station, guests have access to cots, sheets, blankets, pillows, a supervised lounge with a television, bathrooms and a warm, safe place to rest. As winter intensifies, the center says it urgently needs community support.

For those that want to contribute in other ways, Kelley said non-perishable foods, blankets, and hand and foot warmers are always in demand.

Over the Thanksgiving weekend—a period when temperatures ranged from 30 to 37 degrees—the station was open nightly and saw consistent use.

“Over the last week, we’ve had between eight and 15 people utilize the service every night,” Kelley said.

Despite the challenges, the Thanksgiving meal at the center was a bright spot. Puerto Seguro served over 100 plates of hot food during its holiday meal, an effort that brought together donors, volunteers, students, churches and local businesses.

“It was absolutely epic,” Kelley said. “The whole community came together.”

The center served five turkeys, two hams, sweet potato and green bean casseroles, pumpkin and pecan pies, mashed potatoes, and more, with contributions from Socorro High School, the Seventh-day Adventist Church, John Brooks, Air Von, and numerous volunteers.

As winter settles in, Puerto Seguro hopes that same spirit of community support continues through the coldest months, ensuring that no one in Socorro is left out in the cold. Anyone willing and able to pitch in can call the center’s director Nick Dubree at 575-322-0444. Puerto Seguro is located at 519 US Hwy 85 S. in Socorro.