More than 100 people who need help staying warm as the temperatures plummet now have shelter thanks to a local church.
Leaders from two Cobb County churches went out in their buses Monday night and offered a place to stay to anyone on the street.
"If it's below 25 for a certain amount of time, that's important, that's crucial. We need to get them off the street," said Alan Newsome with Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church.
Mt. Bethel partnered with Johnson Ferry Baptist Church to help those in need and they are hoping even more churches will soon get involved.
"We've had deaths in the past people under bridges that have passed away and there's no reason for that. If we have the capability to house people here we will do that," Newsome said.
They say more churches joining in this effort, called "Opening Our Doors, is the only way to make a real impact.
"Before you can help somebody you've got to keep them alive and give them a chance," Akin said.
They were able to keep 150 people safe from the cold, but there are many others who are still on the street.
"These people are trying to save people," said Royriquez Gates, who is staying in a warm bed tonight thanks to the churches. "With the wind chill, I think it's going to be about 10 degrees so it's terrible for everybody out here right now."
The church stopped at downtown Atlanta outreaches and filled their buses with those in need.
"They've been waiting here all day to go so they're really excited about going," said Christopher Hayes with Safehouse Outreach.
Mt. Bethel's pastor says it's not enough to go at it alone any longer. He's calling for other churches to join in this effort.
"Not feeling a sense of pride but feeling a sense of why don't we try to join together," said Rev. Carey Akin."That's really the goal is to allow the churches to come together. So often we don't do what we should do because we're all trying to do our own thing."
