What We Do
Youngstown Blue Coats was started to give the homeless some comfort and warmth during the harsh winter season.
Helping Those
In Need!
Americans Helping Americans
"In America, Nobody Should Freeze to Death."
People of all ages come for help.
We give them a hand up …
not a handout!
In 2021 the Youngstown Blue Coats served over 693 Veterans, 1,229 men, 663 women and 173 children. Of that 114 people were unsheltered. The rest were either homeless, on the verge of homelessness or extremely low income during the winter months of November through March.
We load our bus, the Alexander Luke, with warming items and team members, pick up our guides and go to either specific locations like a mission or we go out into the woods and search for those who are without shelter. We go day or night, rain, snow or sunshine.
We cover Trumbull, Mahoning, Columbiana, Portage, Stark and Summit counties in Ohio and Mercer, Lawrence, Butler, Beaver, Allegheny and Washington counties in Pennsylvania working with 56 agencies and several local schools. We also attend Veteran’s Stand Downs in both states
These are some of the places we find people living, they call this
… Home
We have stopped when people were on a street corner asking for help and given them new boots, coats and gloves.
At food give aways, missions and everywhere we go we leave people warmer and with a little more hope.
Many times, we pray with them right then and there and those prayers are always welcomed.
THE WORLD IS CHANGED BY YOUR EXAMPLE not your opinion.
Paulo Coelho
Providing warming items like warm winter boots, socks, gloves, coats and hats helps prevent frostbite to those exposed to the cold and bitter temperatures.
Giving a tent, ground mat, sleeping bag, blanket and tarp provides shelter to those who have none
We’ve often been asked if we are angels,
but we tell them no, we just care about them and want them to be safe and warm. We treat them with dignity, respect and love.
We find people every where we go and sadly, many are Veterans One in every 5 homeless people are a Veteran. We work with Veteran organizations to help get them off the streets, get them treatment and into a safe environment.
How can you help?
- Pray for our team, those we help and this mission
- Make a monetary donation, it’s tax deductible
- Donate ONLY the items on our list
- Donate fuel cards
- Become a Blue Coats team member and go on missions
- Volunteer at our office to help with inventory
- Tell others what we do and share our mission
- Help us with our fundraisers and attend fundraisers
- Host a Fundraiser or Stuff the Bus
We are Veterans Helping Veterans *** Americans Helping Americans
We are a 501 ©3 non-profit *** All donations go into the mission
No one gets paid, we are ALL Volunteers
We have a passion to serve God’s people and give a hand up not a handout
Our Focus
To Bridge the gap between the shelters and homeless camps in the winter.
We Advocate for those who need our help,
and seek volunteers.
The Youngstown Blue Coats was started to give the homeless some comfort and warmth during the harsh winter season. We ask volunteers who share our same commitment to join us in any way they can. We are 100% volunteer participation group.
We are a no profit organization. All money raised goes back into purchasing items needed for th homeless.
The need is growing every year in the Mahoning Valley, with the majority of the homeless being Veterans.
Together, we can make a difference!
Veterans Helping Veterans
We look even harder for our veterans. They're usualy found helping other people. We do this with no questions asked, no middle man, and we are all volunteers.
Shelter & Tarps
We go into the woods in late evening hours looing for homeess. We give tents, tarps and sleeping bags.
Items Needed.
Dry Boots
New socks and dry warm boots are delivered in the woods and on the streets to help those in need.
Warm Coats
Adult coats new or gently in sizes Large to 4-XL needed. Hats, gloves, hand warmers, and blankets are greatly appreciated.
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