With temperatures expected to drop on the each evening this first week of February, Lake County is activating shelters for those vulnerable to cold weather.

Trinity Assembly of God, located at 200 Urick St. in Fruitland Park, will open all three nights from 5 p.m. until 7 a.m. the following morning. LifePointe Church, located at 3551 E. Orange Ave. in Eustis, will only be open on the first two nights from 5 p.m. until 7 a.m. the following morning. Masks are required at all cold weather sheltering locations.

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 now also 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.

• Evenings of Monday, Feb. 1 and Tuesday, Feb. 2:
  • Clermont – pick-up times:
    • 5:20 p.m. – FDOT Park and Ride, located at 1995 U.S. Highway 27 in Clermont, for transport to Trinity Assembly of God. 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 will board the Route 1A bus for transport to Trinity Assembly of God.

• Mornings of Tuesday, Feb. 2 and Wednesday, Feb. 3:
  • LifePointe Church, Eustis
    • 6:45 – 7:00 a.m. – Lake County Connection will transport riders back to The Open Door, located at 115 E. Citrus Ave. in Eustis or the Ardice Transfer Center afterward. Riders can also 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. Riders can also alert the driver that they are returning home from the cold weather shelter and may ride for free to their destination.

• Evening of Wednesday, Feb. 3:
  • Clermont – pick-up times:
    • 5:20 p.m. – FDOT Park and Ride, located at 1995 U.S. Highway 27 in Clermont, for transport to Trinity Assembly of God. 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.
  • Leesburg – pick-up times:
    • 5:00 p.m. – Citizens Transfer Center, located near 1321 Citizens Blvd. in Leesburg. Riders will board the Route 1A bus for transport to Trinity Assembly of God.

• Morning of Thursday, Feb. 4: 
  • Trinity Assembly of God, Fruitland Park
    • 7:10 – 7:20 a.m. – LakeXpress will transport riders to the Citizens Transfer Center in Leesburg. Riders can also elect to be taken to the Salvation Army, located at 2605 South St. in Leesburg, or The Open Door, located at 115 E. Citrus Ave. in Eustis. Riders can also 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 multi-day event should call Lake County Connection at 352-742-2612 by 1:00 p.m. on Feb. 1, 2 or 3 to schedule a time and location for pick-up.

For more information about preparing for extreme cold weather events, visit www.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.