Oak Orchard Health opens warming center in Warsaw

Organization has ‘Code Blue’ sites in Albion and Brockport

Press Release, Oak Orchard Health

WARSAW—Building on the success of the Orleans County Warming Center and the Brockport Community Warming Center, Oak Orchard Health has continued to work with its Wyoming County community partners to open a new warming center in Warsaw with today the first day for the center.

This community collaboration addresses the needs of people without housing when the temperature is below 32 degrees (“Code Blue”).

The new Wyoming County Community Warming Center is at Clarity Warsaw Clinic, 43 Duncan St. If an individual needs evening shelter during Code Blue, they can call

(585) 340-1355, and they will have a warm place to stay. They will also be referred to the county and local non-profits for additional services, ensuring a comprehensive approach to their well-being.

The new Wyoming County Community Warming Center in Warsaw offers an alternate, safe, warm place with snacks and toiletries and a connection to our community partners and services. Many local partners, including the Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office, will continue to provide a warm place during Code Blue. Other partners are providing community resources like warm hats, blankets, backpacks and other bare necessities for those who live outside in the inclement weather.

“We could not have made the Wyoming County Community Warming Center a reality without the support of our community partners and funding from the Greater Rochester Health Foundation. We are so grateful for their grant and all the volunteers who made this a reality. Oak Orchard will be responsible for staffing and coordinating the opening of this community resource in the region,” said Karen Kinter, CEO, Oak Orchard Health.

In 2023, Oak Orchard successfully opened the Orleans County Warming Center, serving 63 people who used the site on the 110 code blue days. New York State mandates that if the weather drops below 32 degrees, it’s considered “Code Blue,” and the community must provide shelter.

There will be a ribbon-cutting celebration for the Warsaw site at 3 p.m. on Jan. 17.

“The Oak Orchard Health Warming Center is a powerful example of a community-driven initiative demonstrating the strength of collaboration between nonprofits, community members, local businesses and government,” said Monica Brown, senior program officer for Greater Rochester Health Foundation. “In rural areas like Wyoming County, where access to critical resources can be limited and inequities in healthcare and housing are prevalent, this project represents a critical support during an extreme time of need.