FARMINGTON — For Dot Morgan of Chesterville, the Warming Center is a place to share her talents with others, but she also thinks it’s about learning new things and meeting new people.

While temperatures outside dipped into the teens on Tuesday, the opening of this year’s Warming Center cast a warm glow of friendliness over participants who met at Henderson Memorial Baptist Church.

The Warming Center is held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays January through March in three area churches. It provides a place for people of all ages to gather for a hot meal and good company, according to the center’s brochure.

On Tuesdays through Feb. 14, the center is at Henderson Memorial. Starting Tuesday, Feb. 21, it moves to St. Joseph’s Church and continues through March.

Thursdays it’s at Old South Church, the normal Thursday site for SeniorsPlus meals.

Morgan stopped her puzzle work to count the stitches of a crocheted dishcloth made by Harriet Brinkman.  She taught Brinkman to crochet at a previous Warming Center. Brinkman brought her nearly finished product Tuesday to show Morgan.

“People give to me and now it’s my turn to give back,” Morgan said, while she explained her intention to bring in crocheted squares to sew together for a blanket next Tuesday.

The large tables provide a place to lay it out while sewing it, she said. Once done, she intends to donate it to the Daughters of Isabella.

 “It’s about sharing with each other,” she said, as other participants visited over hot coffee and baked goods provided by volunteers.

Designed as a place that would allow people to save oil by turning their home thermostats down and gathering for a few hours in warm location, the Warming Centers have become much more to those who attend.

Volunteers staff the kitchen and welcoming table and greet visitors as they park near the church. Participants are invited to help the volunteers serve and clean up after the meal or share a talent.  Some days special activities are offered, including knitting and crocheting projects, chair yoga and art activities.

The Warming Center has cards, games, puzzles, arts and crafts supplies, a play corner for children and parents and a reading table with newspapers, magazines and books.

A hot meal provided by SeniorsPlus is served to guests of all ages. A donation of $3 per person helps offset the cost of the meal. SeniorsPlus requests a call with the number of meals required for any day at least a day in advance.

Participants can reserve a meal for any of the Warming Center sites by calling the office at Henderson Memorial at 778-2163 and leaving a name and the number of meals requested.

People are welcome to come for the day or just for lunch, soup or a snack, according to the brochure.

Trinity United Methodist Church also begins their Loaves and Fishes Luncheons this week. On Wednesdays through the winter, starting Jan. 4, a meal is offered by church volunteers at noon at the church on the Farmington Falls Road. Donations are welcome.

For more information about the Warming Centers, call Henderson Memorial at 778-2163, St. Joseph’s at 778-2778 or Old South Church at 778-0424.

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