The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library downtown is offering blankets as the cold of the winter begins to grip D.C.
The central location of the D.C. Public Library system posted about the free blankets on Facebook and X (formerly known as Twitter) Tuesday, a day when morning wind chills were in the mid 20s and evening wind gusts knocked down the National Christmas tree outside the White House. A cold weather emergency was in effect due to the extremely cold temperatures.
"Blankets available here," the sign at the library announced, along with an image of a red cozy-looking throw. An image of Martin Luther King Jr. looks on protectively from the mural in the library.
The MLK Library is located at 901 G St. NW in the Penn Quarter area.
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The blankets are free and can be requested at the front desk "as available." This note sparked social media users to ask how they could donate extra blankets to the library or even share the idea with other libraries.
"Ok but like how can we send you more blankets?" one X user commented.
Another wrote: "@DunwLibr is this something you offer/have thought about offering as the weather gets worse? Thx."
The library receives blankets from a D.C. Department of Human Services (DHS) initiative, a representative of the D.C. Public Library told News4. The DHS has distributed blankets to individuals experiencing homelessness for years, they said.
The D.C. Public Library system also encouraged people to check on unsheltered neighbors, seniors and other vulnerable people, and to call the shelter hotline at 202-399-7093 or 311 if someone needs help.
D.C.'s cold weather emergency plan goes into effect when freezing temperatures are dangerous for residents, especially those outdoors or unsheltered. It is activated when wind chills are 15° or below, or if there is a wind chill of 20° along with snow.
Here are additional cold weather safety precautions from D.C.:
- Stay inside if you can.
- Cover up and limit exposed skin when you go outside.
- Check on your neighbors and learn the signs of hypothermia. Young children, seniors, and those with access and functional needs are the most vulnerable in our community.
- For all animal emergencies, including animals left outside in extreme temperatures, call the Humane Rescue Alliance at 202-723-5730.
