As Our House came up with a warmth plan, the community stepped up.
"A pandemic and polar vortex can't stop our community from stepping up and standing out," Our House Executive Director Misty Dothage said.
Monetary and space heater donations over the past few days have allowed the homeless shelter to protect individuals in need against plunging temperatures, she said.
"We have been handing out space heaters, warmth bags, scarves, hats, hot hand warmers, thermal emergency blankets and putting people in hotel rooms to keep them warm," Dothage said in an email.
Fulton faced temperatures well below freezing with negative wind chills over the weekend - weather well beyond uncomfortable, and in fact dangerous, to anyone exposed to the cold for extended periods of time.
In adults, signs of hypothermia include shivering, exhaustion, confusion, memory loss, slurred speech and drowsiness. Signs of frostbite include white or grayish-yellow skin area, skin that feels unusually firm or waxy and numbness.
Advice on to address both medical emergencies can be found at https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/winter/staysafe/hypothermia.html.
On Friday, the group posted on Facebook asking for help meeting the need.
"From a late night crazy idea that I emailed my board a few days ago to now Wow," Dothage said. "My board jumped right in with conversation, feedback and support and concerns so we could figure out the best way to move forward. Eventually a warmth plan was created."
Community members dropped of not only heaters, but also food and cold weather gear.
"We have had quite a few space heater and monetary donations over the past few days," Dothage said. "This has allowed us to provide a means of achieving warmth to those who have come to our doors."
Dothage said local churches also helped spread the word.
"We have reached out to law enforcement to make sure they are aware of these resources as well since they often interact with those experiencing a housing crisis or who are on the streets cold," Dothage said.
Our House's warmth bag supply was donated earlier this year by local students. Students of all ages helped gather donations, but the effort was led by student leaders at Fulton High School.
The students compiled the donations and made multiple car trips to deliver the warmth bags to Our House in January.
"Thanks to FHS, we should have plenty of warmth bags to make it through this winter," Dothage said. "FHS's supply of warmth bags has been more of a blessing than I think they anticipated."
Temperatures will still be low this week.
"I would love to encourage community members to help spread the word of these warmth resources to those they see in need - someone sleeping in the park, sitting on the street huddled up and cold, a neighbor who has a house with poor insulation or a broken furnace " Dothage said.