(KCEN) -- Freezing temps are forcing many less fortunate central Texans to rely on warming shelters.
McLennan and Bell County have set up several emergency warming centers to make sure people make it through the winter nights.
Many of the non profits or city buildings that are being made available for people open their doors around five or five thirty this time of year.
They've got beds and cots lined up and ready to go for people to take advantage of.
For the first time this year people are heading to warming centers to make it through the freezing nights. For most of the people that rely on the centers, sleeping on the streets has become a norm.
But with the temps dropping, that becomes unbearable and life threatening.
The Salvation Army said last night they had so many people staying there, people were actually sleeping on the floor.
Salvation Army Area Coordinator Major Dan Ford, "During this time of real cold weather it becomes not just a matter of getting warm, but actually it becomes life threatening in many cases when people don't have a place to go and people are trying to sleep outside it can be really tragic."
Many of these locations including the Salvation Army, Humble House and Victory Ministries are asking for donations like blankets, pillows and hygiene products to help take care of the large number of people coming in to stay.
For a list of warming center locations where you can drop off donations, go to the Now Button.
