As freezing temperatures gripped North Texas, the East Plano Islamic Center (EPIC) opened its doors to protect unhoused residents, leading the city’s only overnight warming shelter through a major winter storm.
Muslim volunteers at EPIC worked alongside local churches and city officials to provide warmth, meals, transportation, and medical support, transforming the mosque’s gymnasium into a safe overnight shelter for those facing life-threatening cold, Dallas News reported.
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“We got hundreds of calls for food, for water … medications, all kinds of stuff,” said Sameer Siddiqui, president of EPIC’s board. “You just name it, we were there.”
Hours before temperatures dropped Friday night, EPIC volunteers prepared the space by laying plastic tarps across the basketball court, setting up nearly 160 metal cots, folding donated clothes, and arranging bedding, tables, and meals. Guests were welcomed in the evening for dinner and overnight shelter.
The Plano overnight warming station has operated for eight years through a coalition of faith groups, but EPIC has served as its primary host since 2022, when the shelter moved from the Salvation Army to the mosque’s larger gymnasium. The facility can accommodate up to 225 people.
The shelter opens whenever forecasts predict freezing temperatures or cold rain. As North Texas braced for more than 80 hours of freezing conditions, EPIC coordinated rotating volunteer teams to keep the shelter open around the clock until Tuesday.
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In addition to overnight accommodation, EPIC provides transportation for guests from the Parker Road DART station and operates a trailer outside the shelter where visitors can shower—services that have become essential during prolonged winter emergencies.
Siddiqui said the mosque’s expanded role was shaped by the deadly 2021 winter storm, when EPIC became a hub for emergency assistance across the community.
The city of Plano supports the effort by stationing two police officers and two paramedics at the shelter overnight and allocating about $30,000 annually to reimburse volunteers for food and supplies.
According to volunteers, EPIC and its partner congregations contribute an additional $20,000 each year to sustain operations.
For guests, the shelter offers more than protection from the cold.
Muhammad El-Qasem, who has been experiencing homelessness for about a month, said he felt supported by the volunteers who helped him escape the freezing rain.
“Whether you’re in the Islamic community, or the Christian community … they’ve all come together over the suffering of others,” El-Qasem said.
While the shelter reflects interfaith cooperation, EPIC’s leadership underscores a core Islamic commitment to service, dignity, and care for those most vulnerable—values that continue to guide the mosque’s response during times of crisis.