Mason City First Serves as Emergency Shelter During Blizzard

By Betsy Gross, Clerk of Session

In the late evening of Sunday, December 28, 2025, during a blizzard, a call came from Cerro Gordo County Emergency Management to Mason City First, of travelers needing emergency shelter. We sheltered 35 travelers.

Donna Lee Olson wrote, in a FaceBook post, “With the interstate closed, hotels full and Clear Lake Churches helping, the DOT still had more people to place after rescuing them from ditched and snow bound cars and trucks… Families took rooms for privacy and slept on the carpeting. Our enclosed courtyard gave the two dogs a safe place to run outside… and quickly come back in.”

David and Laura Little took the first overnight shift. David did a food run to Kwik Star. Laura, a master quilter, brought her stash from home. Rev. Kip Murphy and members Jackie Wendt, Donna Lee Olson, Yvonne Addis, Jean and Lloyd Vollmers, and Bill Jellema came on Monday to assist as needed. There may have been others I’m unaware of. By Monday evening, there were only 3 travelers left to shelter.

Donna Lee Olson writes, “The travelers were a snapshot of America: from Minneapolis en route to Des Moines, Ohio, East Indian, Somali, Amish from Eureka, Montana who had traveled by train to St. Paul then were being driven by a van to visit family in Central Missouri.”

Of note, Mason City First had cancelled services Sunday morning due to the blizzard. The members able to respond Sunday evening live within a few blocks of the church in Mason City. As Pastor Kip says “I love seeing the church be the church! Our congregation hosted 35 motorists who were stranded in the blizzard. A huge thank you to everyone who is helping out and for the coordination provided by Cerro Gordo County Emergency Management!”