FARMINGTON — The Farmington Warming Center, hosted by three local churches, opened this week and will continue for 13 weeks through March.

The center, in its third year, is a place for all ages to enjoy a hot meal, good company, games and snacks. It’s a chance to turn home thermostats down for a few hours.

It’s open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.

On Tuesday, it was at Henderson Memorial Baptist Church. The church will host the center every Tuesday through January and Feb. 1, 8 and 15. Then the center moves to St. Joseph’s Catholic Church on Feb. 22 and continues there on Tuesdays through March.

Old South Congregational Church will host the center every Thursday through March, since it already provides space for a SeniorsPlus meal site there on Thursdays, said church coordinator Linda Giard.

The center meals are provided to all ages with a $3 donation requested or whatever the guest can afford, she said. Along with the meal, church volunteers cook soups and other snacks to serve at no charge.

Old South church has about 45 volunteers interested in helping with greeting, serving and just visiting with guests.

It’s not only retired volunteers and guests who enjoy the center. A college student, Lyvia Gaewsky, knitted mittens Thursday and visited with 90-year-old Al Neufeld of Farmington.

Another high school student has volunteered to attend each Warming Center to play chess from 1 to 2 p.m., Giard said.

Participants play games, do puzzles, knit and crochet or just visit. Old South volunteer Jackie Ranco plans to help those interested create a fleece blanket or scarf with material she has.

Fran Hardy and Jo Brinkman greeted guests and provided name tags on Thursday. They had a good time last year with the job and fell in love with the ministry, Hardy said.

Those interested in the SeniorsPlus meal are asked to call Henderson Memorial at 778-2163 to reserve a meal. Guests may leave their name and the number of meals needed so the church can give SeniorsPlus 24-hours notice of the number of meals needed.

For more information about the Warming Center, call either Henderson Memorial church, Old South church at 778-0424 or St. Joseph’s church at 778-2778.

In addition to the Warming Center, Trinity United Methodist Church on the Farmington Falls Road provides a Loaves and Fishes luncheon on Wednesdays at noon. All are welcome and donations are accepted.

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