With temperatures expected to drop on the evening of Friday, Jan. 28, Lake County will activate shelters for those vulnerable to cold weather.

Trinity Assembly of God, located at 200 Urick St. in Fruitland Park and LifePointe Church, located at 3551 E. Orange Ave. in Eustis, will open all three nights from 5 p.m. until 7 a.m. the following morning. Masks are required at all cold weather sheltering locations, and the Florida Department of Health will be conducting COVID-19 screenings at each shelter as well as offering hepatitis A, flu, and COVID-19 vaccinations.

LakeXpress, Lake County’s fixed route transportation service, will provide free transportation to riders who indicate they are traveling to a cold weather shelter. Riders should arrive before the indicated pick-up time. The CDC requires all riders of public busing systems to wear an appropriate face covering that covers both the nose and mouth for the duration of the ride. Bus drivers will provide face coverings for transit riders if needed. The CDC Order may be viewed by visiting https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/p0130-requires-face-masks.html.

  • Evening of Friday, Jan. 28:
    • Clermont – pick-up times:
      • 5:20 p.m. – FDOT Park and Ride, located at 1995 U.S. Highway 27 in Clermont, for transport to LifePointe Church. LakeXpress driver will alert riders that cold weather shelter transportation has been dispatched for them, and they should stay at the bus pick-up location inside the Park and Ride to await paratransit transportation.
    • Eustis – pick-up times:
      • 5:30 p.m. – Ardice Transfer Center. Riders will be transported by bus (Lake County Connection) to LifePointe Church.
      • 5:30 – 5:45 p.m. – The Open Door, located at 115 E. Citrus Ave. in Eustis (after Ardice Transfer Center). Riders will be transported by bus (Lake County Connection) to LifePointe Church.
    • Leesburg – pick-up times:
      • 5:00 p.m. – Citizens Transfer Center, located near 1321 Citizens Blvd. in Leesburg. Riders must board the Route 1A bus for transport to Trinity Assembly of God.
  • Morning of Saturday, Jan. 29:
    • LifePointe Church, Eustis
      • 6:30 a.m. – Lake County Connection will transport riders back to The Open Door, located at 115 E. Citrus Ave. in Eustis or the FDOT Park and Ride at 1995 US Hwy 27 in Clermont.
    • Trinity Assembly of God, Fruitland Park
      • 6:30 a.m. – Lake County Connection will transport riders back to the intersection of 4th St. and Main St. in Leesburg or Come As You Are Ministry, located at 1305 Sunshine Ave. in Leesburg.
  • Evening of Saturday, Jan. 29:
    • Clermont – pick-up times:
      • 4:30 p.m. – Citrus Tower Parking Lot, 141 N. Hwy 27, Clermont for transport to LifePointe Church. Local law enforcement will arrive at Citrus Tower parking lot at 4:30 p.m. to determine if cold weather shelter transportation is needed. If riders are present, the officer will call on-duty transit official, and a transit bus will be dispatched.
    • Eustis – pick-up times:
      • 5:30 p.m.  – The Open Door, located at 115 E. Citrus Ave. in Eustis Riders will be transported by bus (Lake County Connection) to LifePointe Church.
    • Leesburg – pick-up times:
      • 5:30 p.m. – Intersection of 4th St. and Main St., Leesburg, for transport to Trinity Assembly of God.
      • 5:30-5:45 p.m.  – Come As You Are Ministry, 1305 Sunshine Ave., Leesburg, for transport to Trinity Assembly of God.
  • Morning of Sunday, Jan. 30:
    • LifePointe Church, Eustis
      • 6:30 a.m. – Lake County Connection will transport riders back to The Open Door, located at 115 E. Citrus Ave. in Eustis or the FDOT Park and Ride at 1995 US Hwy 27 in Clermont.
    • Trinity Assembly of God, Fruitland Park
      • 6:30 a.m. – Lake County Connection will transport riders to the intersection of 4th St. and Main St. in Leesburg or Come As You Are Ministry, located at 1305 Sunshine Ave. in Leesburg.
  • Evening of Sunday, Jan. 30:
    • Clermont – pick-up times:
      • 4:30 p.m. – Citrus Tower Parking Lot, 141 N. Hwy 27, Clermont for transport to LifePointe Church. Local law enforcement will arrive at Citrus Tower parking lot at 4:30 p.m. to determine if cold weather shelter transportation is needed. If riders are present, the officer will call on-duty transit official, and a transit bus will be dispatched.
    • Eustis – pick-up times:
      • 5:30 p.m. – The Open Door, located at 115 E. Citrus Ave. in Eustis Riders will be transported by bus (Lake County Connection) to LifePointe Church.
    • Leesburg – pick-up times:
      • 5:30 p.m. – Intersection of 4th St. and Main St., Leesburg, for transport to Trinity Assembly of God.
      • 5:30 – 5:45 p.m.  – Come As You Are Ministry, 1305 Sunshine Ave., Leesburg, for transport to Trinity Assembly of God.
  • Morning of Monday, Jan. 31:
    • LifePointe Church, Eustis
      • 6:30 a.m. – Lake County Connection will transport riders back to The Open Door, located at 115 E. Citrus Ave. in Eustis, the Ardice Transfer Center or the Citrus Tower Parking Lot at 141 N. Hwy 27 in Clermont. LakeXpress riders can alert the driver that they are returning home from the cold weather shelter and may ride for free to their destination.
    • Trinity Assembly of God, Fruitland Park
      • 7:10 – 7:20 a.m. – LakeXpress will transport riders to the Citizens Transfer Center in Leesburg or the Salvation Army, located at 2605 South St. in Leesburg. LakeXpress riders can alert the driver that they are returning home from the cold weather shelter and may ride for free to their destination.

Lake County residents who anticipate the need to be sheltered at one of the churches and are unable to be picked up at one of the pre-designated locations during this event should call Lake County Connection at 352-742-2612 by 1:00 p.m. on Jan. 28 to schedule a time and location for pick-up.

To receive cold weather alerts, text “COLD” to 888-777 or follow Lake County Emergency Management on Facebook athttps://www.facebook.com/LakeCountyFLEmergencyManagement. For more information about preparing for extreme cold weather events, visitwww.floridadisaster.org/hazards/extreme-cold. Nonprofit and faith-based organizations that wish to offer sheltering assistance in the future should contact Lake County Emergency Management at 352-343-9420.

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