Here in Iowa, we are no strangers to extreme temperatures. There are a lot of days in the summer when it is brutally hot and there are a lot of days in the winter when it is dangerously cold.

Unfortunately, there are homeless people and others in our community who can’t escape these dangerous temperature extremes.

The congregation of First Baptist Church in Fort Dodge is going to use a little SALT to help them.

We’re not talking about the kind of salt found in the little shaker on the dining room table. In this case, SALT is an acronym that stands for Shine A Light Together. The church at 28 N. 10th St. has opened the SALT Center, which is a place where people can get cooled off in the summer and warmed up in the winter.

The center fills a vital need in downtown Fort Dodge where there really isn’t any other place like it. It is open from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

The center is stocked with donated supplies and is staffed by volunteers. Organizers hope to secure some grants so that there will be paid staffers to keep it open longer.

The SALT Center is free and open to anyone. People entering the center, especially for the first time, will be asked a few questions. By asking these questions, center volunteers will learn what services are most needed. These conversations will also help the volunteers learn if anyone needs medical care as a result of being out in extreme heat or cold.

The members of First Baptist Church have seen the need for such a cooling and warming shelter and have taken it upon themselves to provide it. In doing so, they are providing a needed service. They are providing an outstanding example of how to care for others in our community.