ST. LOUIS — The bitter cold temperatures are filling up the warming shelters across the St. Louis region.
Right now, many shelters are struggling to find beds for those in need.
As temperatures continue in the teens, it is especially dangerous for people in the homeless community.
The snow on the ground and the below-freezing temperatures outside meant the interior of 800 N. Tucker St. was packed.
Amanda Laumeyer, St. Patrick Center CEO, said the dangerous cold is bringing more people into the shelter.
"It's just been really busy here," she said.
The St. Patrick's warming shelter is just one of the many across St. Louis reaching capacity during this bitter cold, according to Laumeyer.
"As the temperatures get dangerously cold, we are really pushing in that capacity because it's just not in us to allow folks to suffer," she said.
Laumeyer has been one of the many volunteers helping those in need over the weekend and said some of the things she's seen has really worried her.
"The first woman that walked in had severe frostbite. She had spent the entire evening out Friday night. She was in a lot of pain. She needed be warmed up," she said.
The St. Patrick Center gives clothes and food to everyone that comes in.
If they don't have room in the shelter, Laumeyer said, they'll make sure they find a warm place to stay through the winter outreach program.
"Winter outreach is a group of volunteers that connects people with shelters that are available, and they call them pop up shelters because they'll often open up during these extreme temperatures, not be a traditional shelter year-round," she said.
According to Laumeyer, no matter the temperatures there's always a cause for concern when this season hits because of the limited shelters in our area.
"Every winter is always a little bit scary. Any time it drops below 20 degrees, you really don't want to be outside, that may not be considered dangerous, but it's not comfortable," she said.
As the temperatures continue to drop, shelters are doing the best they can, but Laumeyer worries it still won't be enough.
"Despite all of the amazing efforts, we know there's still not enough shelter beds out there and there will be some folks that are outside," she said.
The St. Patrick Center accepts donations Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Right now, they specifically need winter weather clothing like gloves, scarves, hats and jackets.