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Need to escape the cold? Warming centers available in central Iowa

Warming centers are great resources for those without a home, or for others looking to escape frigid temperatures.

DES MOINES, Iowa — Two separate winter storms hit central Iowa this week, but sub-zero temperatures and bitter wind chills are still on the horizon.

This climate can be dangerous for many, including those without a home, or those without a working heating system.

But for anyone living in central Iowa, staying warm and indoors is essential.

"We wanna make sure we have spaces where our citizens can go to get some relief from the really cold temperatures," said Laura Kacer, Polk County EMS resiliency coordinator.

Shelters, businesses and libraries can volunteer to serve as warming centers across the metro.

DART is providing free rides for anyone wanting to access a warming center or to Central Iowa Shelter & Services

View the full list of warming centers below in Polk County. 

Altoona

  • Altoona Public Library
    • Address: 700 8th Street SW Altoona, IA 50009
    • Hours: Monday-Thursday 9am - 9pm, Friday-Saturday 9am - 5pm, Sunday 2pm-5pm
    • Dart Bus Route: N/A
  • Altoona Campus
    • Address: 1500 8th St SW Altoona, IA, 50009
    • Hours: Monday-Friday 5am-8pm
    • Dart Bus Route: N/A

Ankeny

  • Kirkendall Public Library
    • Address: 1250 SW District Dr Ankeny, Iowa 50023
    • Hours: Monday-Thursday 9am-9pm, Friday 9am-5:30pm, Saturday 9am - 5pm, Sunday 1pm-5pm
    • Dart Bus Route: N/A
  • Albaugh Family Senior Community Center
    • Address: 150 NW Ash Dr. Ankeny, IA 50023
    • Hours: Monday-Thursday 6:30am-9pm, Friday 6:30am-5:00pm, Saturday 9am-3pm, Sunday 1pm-5pm
    • Dart Bus Route: N/A

Bondurant

  • Bondurant City Center
    • Address: 200 2nd St. NE 
    • Hours: Weekdays, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
    • Dart Bus Route: N/A
  • Bondurant Public Library
    • Address: 104 2nd St. NE 
    • Hours: Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 12 p.m.-5 p.m. 
    • Dart Bus Route: N/A

Clive

  • Clive Public Library
    • Address: 1900 NW 114th St.
    • Hours: Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m.-5 p.m.
    • Dart Bus Route: 72/92

Des Moines

  • Des Moines Central Community Center
    • Address: 2008 Forest Ave.
    • Hours: Weekdays, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
    • Dart Bus Route: 3, 5, 14, 60
  • Des Moines Central Library
    • Address: 1000 Grand Ave. 
    • Hours: Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m.-5 p.m.
    • Dart Bus Route: 5, 14, 60, D-Line
  • Des Moines Creative Visions
    • Address: 1343 13th St. 
    • Hours: Monday-Thursday, 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
    • Dart Bus Route: 16
  • Des Moines East Side Library
    • Address: 2559 Hubbell Ave.
    • Hours: Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
    • Dart Bus Route: 17
  • Des Moines Eastside Community Center
    • Address: 1231 E. 26th Street
    • Hours: Weekdays, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
    • Dart Bus Route: 17
  • Des Moines Forest Ave Library
    • Address: 1326 Forest Ave. 
    • Hours: Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
    • Dart Bus Route: 3, 16, 60 
  • Des Moines Four Mile Recreation Center
    • Address: 3711 Easton Blvd. 
    • Hours: Weekdays, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
    • Dart Bus Route: 1
  • Des Moines Franklin Ave Library
    • Address: 5000 Franklin Ave.
    • Hours: Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m.-5 p.m.
    • Dart Bus Route: 5
  • Des Moines Northwest Community Center
    • Address: 5110 Franklin Ave.
    • Hours: Weekdays, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
    • Dart Bus Route: 5
  • Des Moines North Community Center
    • Address: 3010 6th Ave. 
    • Hours: Weekdays, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
    • Dart Bus Route: 15, 4
  • Des Moines North Side Library
    • Address: 3516 5th Ave.
    • Hours: Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
    • Dart Bus Route: 4, 15
  • Des Moines Norwoodville Senior Center
    • Address: 3077 NE 46th Ave.
    • Hours: Weekdays, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
    • Dart Bus Route: N/A
  • Des Moines Pioneer Columbus Community Recreation Center
    • Address: 2100 SE 5th St.
    • Hours: Weekdays, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
    • Dart Bus Route: 6
  • Polk County Health Department
    • Address: 1907 Carpenter Ave.
    • Hours: Weekdays, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
    • Dart Bus Route: 3, 14, 60
  • Des Moines South Side Library
    • Address: 1111 Porter Ave.
    • Hours: Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
    • Dart Bus Route: 7
  • Des Moines Southside Community Center
    • Address: 100 Payton Ave.
    • Hours: Weekdays, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
    • Dart Bus Route: Two blocks from line
  • Merle Hay Mall
    • Address: 3850 Merle Hay Road
    • Hours: Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
    • Dart Bus Route: 5, 14, 16, 91
  • Scott-FourMile Community Recreation Center
    • Address: 3711 Easton Blvd.
    • Hours: Weekdays, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
    • Dart Bus Route: N/A

Elkhart

  • Elkhart City Hall
    • Address: 260 NW Main St.
    • Hours: Weekdays, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
    • Dart Bus Route: N/A

Grimes

  • Grimes Public Library
    • Address: 200 N. James St.
    • Hours: Monday-Thursday 9am-8pm; Friday 9am-6pm; Saturday 9am-5pm; Sunday 1pm-5pm

Johnston

  • Johnston Public Library
    • Address: 6700 Merle Hay Rd. 
    • Hours: Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m.-5 p.m.
    • Dart Bus Route: 5

Mitchellville

  • Mitchellville City Hall
    • Address: 204 Center Ave. N
    • Hours: Weekdays, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
    • Dart Bus Route: N/A
  • Mitchellville Public Library
    • Address: 205 Center Ave. N
    • Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
    • Dart Bus Route: N/A

Pleasant Hill

  • Pleasant Hill City Library
    • Address: 5151 Maple Dr. #2
    • Hours: Monday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
    • Dart Bus Route: N/A

Urbandale

  • Urbandale Public Library
    • Address: 3520 86th St. 
    • Hours: Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-8:30 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m.; Sunday, 12 p.m.-6 p.m.
    • Dart Bus Route: 93

West Des Moines

  • West Des Moines Public Library
    • Address: 4000 Mills Civic Parkway
    • Hours: Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m.-5 p.m.
    • Dart Bus Route: 96, 72

Windsor Heights

  • Windsor Heights Public Safety Building
    • Address: 1133 66th St.
    • Hours: Weekdays, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
    • Dart Bus Route: 3

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