“BUILD WITH BLUE COATS!”  Winter months are our busiest distribution months. We distribute warming items, including coats, boots, hats, gloves, scarves, tents, ground mats, sleeping bags, to homeless veterans and other homeless so that they can stay warm and dry. With our YBC bus full of these items, we travel to homeless camps, shelters and other sites to distribute these items to those who need them. We go directly to the homeless. In fact, YBC is the only organization in its region within Eastern Ohio/Western PA that serves homeless veterans and other homeless in this way (that is, directly with distributions from our bus). Moreover, YBC strives to identify where these individuals live and we go directly to them to distribute warming items. Other organizations contact YBC when they encounter homeless living outdoors so that YBC can help these homeless and ensure they receive assistance. One question we receive sometimes from caring, concerned individuals is “What should I do if I find a homeless person?” Our answer is for that person to contact 211 and YBC can work through the 211 responders to assist that homeless individual. For safety reasons, we don’t serve out of our offices directly to the homeless (and, in addition, our offices are not open 24/7; we have no paid staff, everyone who works for YBC is an unpaid volunteer). However, we do make certain that any homeless individual brought to our attention will get the help he/she/they needs through the 211 caseworkers. Alternatively, the person who found the homeless individual can contact us (YBC, at 330-531-1762) with the location of that homeless person(s) and we will send Help Network to him/her/them. If there is no one in the YBC Office when someone calls, a message can be left on voicemail and all calls are returned! Thank you all for your concern, compassion and desire to help on behalf of the homeless YBC serves. The number of homeless has increased annually, particularly in recent years, and all help on behalf of the homeless is much-needed and greatly appreciated. Your generous financial donations help us continue to meet this increased need and our objectives to acquire a new, larger facility! You can help us “BUILD WITH BLUE COATS!” Thank you and Happy Holidays to you and yours!