One of the kitchens that feeds Lawrence’s homeless will stay open later to keep them cool as well.

The space used by Lawrence Interdenominational Nutrition Kitchen — in the basement of First Christian Church, 1000 Ky. — will be open during the afternoons to allow the city’s poor and homeless to take shelter from the summer heat.

The result is “a summer shelter to help people who have no place to go, get out of our oppressive summer heat,” said Hilda Enoch, chairwoman of the Lawrence Coalition on Homeless Concerns.

The basement church space would be open between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m. The overnight shelter at the Salvation Army, 946 N.H., opens at 9 p.m.

“These hours, at present, represent a tremendous gap in services during the hottest hours of the day,” Enoch said.

The Coalition on Homeless Concerns is setting up an interim board to run the program. Volunteers are needed, she said.

“Our plans are to open just as soon as we can hire a paid coordinator for those six hours daily, and to furnish volunteers to assist during its operation those hours as well,” Enoch said.

A training session for volunteers will be Thursday, she said.

“We are hoping to solicit volunteers and support broadly from throughout the community — to keep this program running, at least through August, beginning the last week of July, if we are able to get enough assistance,” Enoch said.

For more information, call Enoch at 842-6513.