Holiday helpers: How to find help in the Rock Hill region as temperatures drop
As York County braces for near record Christmas week cold, services are available around the Rock Hill region for people in need.
Officials with non-profits, shelters and community service groups say organizations that serve the homeless and others who need assistance are open to serve.
Pathways Community Center in Rock Hill offers services to the public at a central location at 546. S. Cherry Road in Rock Hill.
“We are a one-stop shop for people to get what they need for stability in this time of extreme cold,” said Alex Greenawalt, Pathways executive director. “We are here to help people right now with immediate needs. The weather is extremely cold and it is going to get colder. We are here to help people get through it.”
Temperatures starting Friday night through the weekend are expected to drop into the low teens at night, with highs only in the 30s, according to the National Weather Service.
Pathways coordinates 17 non-profits from its location, Greenawalt said.
Pathways offers services countywide in York County, Greenawalt said.
The Pathways center has a Rock Hill city bus ‘Green Route’ stop in front of the building to help people get to and from Pathways.
Shelter services
Bethel Shelters, which is open during the day, is in the rear of the Pathways building. Bethel Shelters operates a men’s shelter on Curtis Street at night, and Pathways has referral services for other shelter services for men, women and children, Greenawalt said.
Emily Sutton, executive director of Bethel Shelters, said the shelters offer safe places for people to get inside and out of the cold.
The shelters operate every day, year-round, officials said.
The United Way of York County also operates as a conduit for service agencies such as Pathways and others, said Summersby Okey, vice president of community impact.
“The weather is a real concern for people over the next several days,” Okey said. “Help is here for people and we are here to help deliver that help.”
Rock Hill Police Department Lt. Michael Chavis said officers carry information to help people get assistance in situations of homelessness and need.
Contacts for the public
Pathways is located at 546. S. Cherry Road, Rock Hill, just south of Main Street. The Bethel Shelters day shelter is located in the rear of the building. For information call 803-328-0003, email info@pathwaysyc.org or visit pathwaysyc.org.
Bethel Shelters men’s shelter is located at 1232 Curtis Street, Rock Hill. 803-327-4881.
The United Way of York County can be reached at 211, or unitedwayofyc.org.
The Dorothy Day Soup Kitchen at 902 Crawford Road in Rock Hill serves a free hot lunch Monday through Saturday.
This story was originally published December 22, 2022 at 9:40 AM.
