Cobb County is expecting high temperatures this Fourth of July, and the Family Life Restoration Center is taking precautions to help those in need. The center opened a brand-new cooling center Monday to combat the mid-90 temperatures expected for this holiday weekend.
Family Life and Restoration Center is a nonprofit in Mableton dedicated to educating, feeding, clothing and sheltering families in need of basic necessities. Executive Director Luther Washington developed the idea for a cooling center last Thursday after seeing a client nearly pass out due to the extreme heat.
“A person could have a stroke out here in this heat,” Washington said. “…that (moment) was the icing on the cake.”
Over the weekend, Washington and other center volunteers converted a donation distribution center and warehouse the organization owned into a temporary cooling center to help clients who are stuck in the heat.
Clients who attend the center will receive cold drinks and snacks as they cool off in air-conditioning. The facility’s amenities include recliner chairs, TVs, books and games. Washington said clients will also receive lunch and a hot meal to go.
Angela Washington, office manager and co-founder of the center, said at the moment, the facility can hold up to 20 clients. “We have clients who are sitting in their cars at this time as well,” Angela Washington said. “It’s a space for them to get out of the heat.”
The Family Life Restoration Center’s cooling center is located at 6328 Mableton Parkway in Mableton and will be open any day the temperature is above 90 degrees. Business hours are from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“You are definitely going to have to make sure you’re getting plenty of water and taking safety precautions,” Marlow said. According to the National Weather Service, Thursday is expecting a high near 94 degrees with a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. The weekend is expected to be about the same type of conditions, Marlow said. “But any way you can reduce your exposure to the sun, that is going to help as well.”
The Cobb County government reports that the Hope House Cooling Center in Marietta is also open in anticipation of the elevated temperature. The center will be open noon to 6:30 p.m. daily through Wednesday, July 10. Clients will receive lunch and dinner before their departure. The Hope House is at 1297 Bells Ferry Road, Marietta.
