Dylan Sautter offers essential supplies and connects community members with re
Regional & State News
July 2, 2026 | 2:00 PM
Harrisburg, York agencies offer re
Officials in Harrisburg, Lebanon and York are opening cooling centers and expanding outreach to protect unhoused residents during extreme heat
- Haley O’Brien
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Haley O’Brien / WITF
Dylan Sautter offers essential supplies and connects community members with re
As Central Pennsylvania endures another stretch of dangerous heat, social service agencies and local governments are expanding outreach and opening cooling centers to help unhoused residents stay safe.
In downtown York on Thursday morning, outreach coordinators with Friends and Neighbors of Pennsylvania walked city streets handing out water and connecting people with available services.
With temperatures expected to approach100 degrees and an extreme heat warning issued through Friday, they packed extra water, cooling towels and socks.
Dylan Sautter and Alex Philo conduct outreach every morning before the Beacon Re
“It will open at 11:30 today for a cooling station,” Philo said Thursday morning. “We had about 120 people yesterday.”
Haley O’Brien / WITF
The Beacon Re
They invite unhoused individuals to the rest time of the day.
“They’re not asking for anything unreasonable,” said Sautter after stopping at Our Daily Bread, a York soup kitchen, to shake hands and offer water.
In Harrisburg, Bethesda Mission has also expanded its services.
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The organization’s 99-bed ren said the facility is welcoming anyone seeking relief from the heat during the daytime hours.
“We’ll feed them and take care of them during the day,” he said. “We’re going to keep it open until the temperatures come back down.”
Bethesda Mission in Harrisburg opens during the day as a cooling center when extreme heat is in the forecast
Bethesda’s Mobile Mission is also visiting several locations throughout Harrisburg to distribute water, food and other supplies.
“There is a certain segment of the homeless that are not going to come in,” Christian said. “But we still want to try to service them the best we can.”
Haley O’Brien / WITF
The cooling center at Bethesda Mission offers TV, books and other activities
The City of Harrisburg set up cooling stations at senior centers, libraries and churches. Water and a cool place to relax will be offered at each location.
Dauphin County’s Area Agency on Aging is offering air conditioner units and helping residents obtain assistance through the state’s LIHEAP program.
Cooling centers in Harrisburg, York and Lebanon are listed below.
Cooling Centers in Harrisburg
McCormick Riverfront Library
10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Through July 2
Madeline Olewine Memorial Library
10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Through July 2
B’nai B’rith Senior Center
9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Mon. – Fri.
Heinz-Menaker Senior Center
8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Tues. – Fri.
Jewish Community Center
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Tues. and Thurs.
Friendship Senior Center
9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Mon. – Fri.
Cooling Centers in York
Crispus Attacks Association
9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Mon. – Fri.
White Rose Senior Center
9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Mon. – Fri.
Yorktown Senior Center
7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Mon. – Fri.
Lifepath Christian Ministries
11:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Every day
The Beacon Re
12:30 – 3 p.m.
Mon. – Fri.
Martin Library
10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Thurs. and Fri.
10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Mon. – Thurs.
Cooling Centers in Lebanon
Lebanon City Hall Atrium
8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Mon. – Fri.
Step into Life Ministries
9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Mon. – Thurs.
Lebanon Family YMCA
5 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Mon. – Fri.
Lebanon Salvation Army
9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Mon. – Fri.
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