The Reno-Sparks Gospel Mission announced on Dec. 19 that it has opened a new emergency cold weather shelter that can take 20 more men out of the severe elements.

With nightly temperatures plummeting below freezing, the Mission will put up to 20 mats on the floor of its dining room for men wishing to come out of the cold. Men will receive a hot shower, hot meal and a warm blanket for the night.

Rick Redding, Mission executive director, said the shelter will open only when temperatures are predicted to drop below 20 degrees or in severe inclement weather situations such as heavy snowfall. Tonight’s low is expected to reach 8 degrees.

“We see these men on the grounds with tarps and wet blankets. There is no way we can look the other way,” Redding said. “I wish we could do more, but opening up our dining room in extreme cold situations seemed the right thing to do.”

The Mission also operates an 18-bed homeless women’s shelter, a men’s 60-bed cold weather overflow shelter for the city and a 100-bed addiction recovery program.

The women’s shelter is full, but during cold weather during the day, women can come in out of the elements.

Redding said the Mission also will provide ski gloves and fresh blankets to all homeless men who want them.