DECATUR - Lisa Elmore was so excited that she refused to let her newest possession out of her grasp: a key to a unit at Woodcrest Apartments.

Through a referral by the American Red Cross, Elmore and her boyfriend, Rick McClure, were able to leave the Red Cross shelter on Wednesday night to stay in an apartment for 30 days, after enduring two nights in their van and three nights at the shelter when the power in their house went out from last week's winter storm.

"I feel on top of the world," Elmore said. "The Red Cross has been helping us so much."

"We've never had to have this kind of help before," McClure said. "It's just amazing."

On Monday the Mid-Illinois Chapter of the American Red Cross moved 24-hour shelter operations from MacArthur High School to Tabernacle Baptist Church. Last night, 25 individuals spent the night at the Tabernacle shelter, and 93 people took advantage of the warmth, food and drink offered, said Tara Winter, public support director for the Red Cross.

"We've actually seen a decrease in people who are staying and spending the night at the shelter, but an increase in people who are coming and getting dinner," she said. "People are heeding our warnings to come out and warm up, even if they're not spending the night."

"We thought we might see a big influx from the National Guard going around to houses, but it didn't seem to," said Dennis Eller, Red Cross director. "It's amazing how the community has come together for everyone."

Fourteen people spent the night at the special needs shelter set up at the Schrodt Education Center at Richland Community College for residents who need medical assistance for conditions like asthma, diabetes or need oxygen, said Lisa Gregory, executive director of executive director of marketing and public information at Richland.

St. Mary's Hospital, Decatur Memorial Hospital and the Good Samaritan Inn are continuing to offer warming shelters.

Courtney Klemm can be reached at cklemm@herald-review.com or 421-6968.