ytownbluecoats

YBC Open House & Ribbon Cutting Ceremony--Thursday, May 25 at Noon

Fri, 19 May 2023 17:07:59 GMT

Open House at our new facility, 2654 North Main Street, Hubbard

“BUILD WITH BLUE COATS!” Exciting news! Youngstown Blue Coats has moved to a new, larger facility. As of April 1, 2023, we are located in the RTW Building at 2654 North Main Street in Hubbard. To celebrate our new facility, we will be hosting an “Open House and Ribbon Cutting” ceremony, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, on Thursday, May 25 ^th , starting at noon. The event is scheduled from noon until 4 pm, and snacks and beverages will be available. Why is this move to our new facility so exciting and necessary? Since our founding six years ago (2017), we have grown and moved from the Founder’s (Patty Summers) basement to our previous facility on Youngstown-Hubbard Road to this current facility where we have gained much-needed space. In terms of space, at our last facility, we had only 2,400 square feet. YBC has been growing so rapidly, especially based on the numbers of individuals we serve, that we clearly needed much more space. At our new location, we have that space! The new location has 12,000 square feet of inside space, much-needed space as we grow and continue to serve increasing numbers of homeless veterans, other homeless individuals and work with our partners (now more than 52 agencies, shelters, and organizations) to serve those in need. In addition, we can now park our distribution bus, named after a World War II veteran, war hero and Silver Star recipient, Alexander J. Luke, inside! Parking the bus inside provides protection from weather when it is not out-and-about delivering warming items to those experiencing homelessness, shelters and/or helping with other YBC business. Come celebrate with us at the May 25 ^th “Open House and Ribbon Cutting” ceremony. And, importantly, YOU can help us continue to grow and thrive and support this move, our new facility and our mission, “In America, nobody should freeze to death.” This mission and the goals, and objectives of Youngstown Blue Coats are accomplished by unpaid volunteers. YBC has no paid staff, and, thus, all donations and funds raised go completely to the YBC mission. YOU can donate on our website: www.ytownbluecoats.org . Of course, you can donate, cash (including checks) and/or non-cash items in other ways; see our Facebook page or website for details. And, thank YOU for your ongoing and generous support! Your support and donations make a profound, powerful and positive difference in the lives of others! Again, hope to see you on May 25 ^th ! “BUILD WITH BLUE COATS!”

Inside Youngstown Blue Coats' New Facility

Fri, 12 May 2023 14:52:14 GMT

Much-needed space--12,000 square feet

“BUILD WITH BLUE COATS!” As you may already know, Youngstown Blue Coats has moved to a new, larger facility! As of April 1, 2023, we are located in the RTW Building at 2654 North Main Street in Hubbard. Since our founding six years ago (2017), we have grown and moved from the Founder’s (Patty Summers) basement to our previous facility on Youngstown-Hubbard Road to this current facility. In terms of space, at our last facility, we had 2,400 square feet and we have been growing so rapidly, especially based on the numbers of individuals we serve, that we clearly needed much more space. At our new location, we have that space! Specifically, at our new location, Blue Coats now has 12,000 square feet of inside space, much-needed space as we grow and continue to serve increasing numbers of homeless veterans, other homeless individuals and work with our partners (now more than 52 agencies, shelters, and organizations) to serve those in need. In addition, we can now park our distribution bus, named after a World War II veteran, war hero and Silver Star recipient, Alexander J. Luke, inside! Parking the bus inside provides protection from weather when it is not out-and-about delivering warming items to those experiencing homelessness, shelters and/or helping with other YBC business. And, importantly, YOU can help us continue to grow and thrive and support this move, our new facility and our mission, “In American, nobody should freeze to death.” This is also an excellent opportunity to remind everyone that the mission, goals, and objectives of Youngstown Blue Coats are accomplished by unpaid volunteers. YBC has no paid staff, and, thus, all donations and funds raised go completely to the YBC mission. YOU can donate on our website: www.ytownbluecoats.org . Of course, you can donate, cash (including checks) and/or non-cash items in other ways; see our Facebook page or website for details. And, thank YOU for your ongoing and generous support! Your support and donations make a profound, powerful and positive difference in the lives of others! “BUILD WITH BLUE COATS!”

What Does 5,000 Pairs of Socks Look LIke?

Fri, 12 May 2023 14:44:59 GMT

Generous donation of beautiful socks from Bombas

“BUILD WITH BLUE COATS!” What does 5,000 pairs of socks look like? The photo here gives some idea! Twenty (20) boxes of 250 pairs of socks each! Youngstown Blue Coats has been blessed by a donation of 5,000 pairs of socks from Bombas®. Bombas® is a company, founded in 2013, and from its founding has had the mission that for every pair of socks purchased, a pair of socks is donated to a homeless shelter or homelessness-related charity. Again, Blue Coats has been blessed by Bombas®. In fact, Bombas® recently announced that they have been able to donate 100 million clothing items to the people who are at risk of or currently experiencing homelessness in their communities. They know well that socks are the number one item needed by those experiencing homelessness and living in shelters. In the photo here, the socks have been delivered to Blue Coats’ new facility (the RTW building, 2654 North Main, Hubbard) and illustrate the space inside that facility! Blue Coats now has 12,000 square feet of inside space, much-needed space as we grow and continue to serve increasing numbers of homeless veterans, other homeless individuals and work with our partners (more than 52 agencies, shelters, and organizations) to serve those in need. And, importantly, YOU can help us continue to grow and thrive and support this move and our new facility. “BUILD WITH BLUE COATS!” YOU can donate on our website: www.ytownbluecoats.org . Of course, you can also donate, cash (including checks) and/or non-cash items in other ways; see our Facebook page or website for details. And, thank YOU for your ongoing and generous support! Your support and donations make a profound, powerful and positive difference in the lives of others!

Youngstown Blue Coats has Moved!

Fri, 12 May 2023 14:33:08 GMT

Our new location has 12,000 square feet of much-needed space!

“BUILD WITH BLUE COATS!” As you may already know from previous blogs and news/media stories about YBC, YBC has moved! This is very exciting, and timely news! As of April 1 ^st , YBC is located in the RTW facility at 2654 North Main Street in Hubbard. We are growing and expanding from 2,400 to 12,000 square feet, and we do need this additional space. YBC was founded in 2017 and since that time has grown greatly in many ways; for example, and most importantly, the numbers of homeless—veterans and other homeless individuals—that we serve have increased significantly. There are many reasons for this, including the pandemic and its consequences; the economy; and more. The numbers of agencies and other organizations with which we partner have increased also; the numbers of warming items (coats, boots, socks, hats, gloves, scarves, sleeping bags, tents, and more) that we receive as donations plus those warming items we must buy in order to serve all those in need have increased as we continue to serve more homeless annually and, of course, need storage; and more. Our distribution bus will be able to be housed indoors in this building and thus protected from weather when not in use. There are so many wonderful advantages to our new location. And, YOU can help us continue to grow and thrive and support this move and new facility. “BUILD WITH BLUE COATS!” YOU can donate on our website: www.ytownbluecoats.org . Of course, you can donate, cash (including checks) and/or non-cash items in other ways; see our Facebook page or website for details. And, thank YOU for your ongoing and generous support! Your support and donations make a profound and powerful difference in the lives of others!

YBC Founder Inducted Into Marquis Who's Who!

Thu, 16 Mar 2023 13:35:48 GMT

YBC and YBC Founder Honored

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Thank You!, MSVC~MOAA (Mahoning-Shenango Valleys Chapter)

ytownbluecoats@gmail.com (Patty Summers) — Wed, 01 Mar 2023 19:53:33 GMT

Sincere Thanks for Generous Support!

“BUILD WITH BLUE COATS!” We want to acknowledge, and to thank, the MSVC~MOAA (Mahoning-Shenango Valleys Chapter, an affiliate of Military Officers Association of America) for their recent fundraiser and donation to benefit YBC. The MSVC/ROA held their annual Christmas fundraiser and donated the proceeds ($500) to Youngstown Blue Coats. President Rod Hosler, representing both MOAA and ROA (Reserve Officers Association), presented their generous donation check to Patty Summers, Founder, President and CEO of YBC, on Monday, January 20th at our current facility on Youngstown-Hubbard Road in Hubbard. During the presentation, President Hosler acknowledged YBC for providing coats, blankets, sleeping bags and other warming items to homeless and needy veterans, and thanked YBC for its “…stellar service to veterans.” He also thanked the MOAA/ROA members for their generous donations. This MOAA/ROA donation and their generous support are particularly timely given that YBC is moving! As you know from previous posts and blogs, we have completely outgrown our current location on Youngstown-Hubbard Road and, in addition to needing more space, the building housing our office and storage has sold. So, as of April 1 ^st , 2023, we will be in a new, larger facility! And, now, you can support our move and our new capital campaign and objectives to acquire a new, larger facility! YOU can help us “BUILD WITH BLUE COATS!” Thank YOU for your ongoing and generous support!New Paragraph

YBC's Bus--"Alexander J. Luke"

Fri, 03 Feb 2023 16:18:27 GMT

YBC Distributes in Northeastern Ohio and Western Pennsylvania

“BUILD WITH BLUE COATS!” YBC distributes warming items—boots, coats, socks, hats, gloves, scarves, tents, ground mats and more--directly to the homeless. We use our bus, named the “Alexander J. Luke” to do these distributions. In addition, we take “Alexander J. Luke,” loaded with these essential warming items, to shelters and other locations where individuals are in need. You may have seen the YBC bus travelling around this area, Northeast Ohio and Western Pennsylvania, or parked across the street from YBC’s current location on Youngstown-Hubbard Road in Hubbard. Apiece of history: the bus is named “Alexander J. Luke” to honor Veteran Luke who served in the Marine Corps during World War II. Veteran Luke was awarded the prestigious Silver Star Award for his actions. His Award Citation reads, in part: “The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (posthumously) to Platoon Sergeant Alexander J. Luke, United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving with the First Marine Raider Battalion during the attack again enemy forces on Tulagi, Solomon Islands on the night of 7-8 August 1942.” The bus, originally a yellow school bus was generously donated to YBC in 2019 by Matthew Mesarchik, Ohio Transport Company, Middlefield, Ohio (Thank you again, Matt!). Subsequently, YBC received donated assistance in refurbishing the bus, painting it to its current colors of gray and blue, and adding our mission statement, “In American, nobody should freeze to death.” Thus, “Alexander J. Luke” continues to serve via YBC’s distributions to those in need. Similarly, it is YOUR generous financial donations that enable YBC to continue to meet needs of area homeless veterans and other homeless. And, now, you can support our new capital campaign and objectives to acquire a new, larger facility! YOU can help us “BUILD WITH BLUE COATS!” Thank YOU for your ongoing and generous support!

What to do if you encounter a homeless person?

ytownbluecoats@gmail.com (Patty Summers) — Fri, 13 Jan 2023 20:18:27 GMT

YBC provides individual assistance to those in need

“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!

A Brief History

ytownbluecoats@gmail.com (Patty Summers) — Fri, 13 Jan 2023 20:07:27 GMT

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“BUILD WITH BLUE COATS!” For those who haven’t heard of Youngstown Blue Coats (YBC) and/or would like more information on this beautiful organization, here is a bit of history. YBC is a 501c(3) nonprofit founded in 2017. It began in the Founder’s basement. Patty Summers, Founder and currently President and CEO of YBC, has a vision. This vision is simple and straightforward; in just a few words, Patty’s vision is described by YBC’s mission statement: “In America, nobody should freeze to death.” YBC distributes warming items, including coats, boots, socks, gloves, hats, scarves, sleeping bags, ground mats, tents and more, to homeless veterans and other homeless during winter months in order to prevent freezing and other adverse health impacts and to keep them warm and well. Patty had participated in a coat drive for another organization that served area homeless, and was immediately touched by the huge need for such services to assist the homeless stay healthy and warm. From that first coat drive, she became committed to this cause; so, committed, in fact, that when the need for another nonprofit to serve homeless in this area (Northern Ohio and Western Pennsylvania), Patty accepted that challenge, and YBC was born. Patty and her ‘recruits,’ all volunteers, collected donations of coats, boots and other warming items and operated out of her basement, distributing items to those homeless who needed them. She reached out to other organizations that serve the homeless, including homeless veterans, to partner and collaborate. YBC was already growing and serving increasing numbers of homeless veterans and other homeless. From Patty’s basement, YBC next moved to storage units, and soon outgrew those! And from storage units, YBC next moved to its own current location on Youngstown-Hubbard Road in Hubbard township. And, now, in just a few short years, YBC has outgrown that facility (2400 square feet) as well. And, so the story continues, with YBC seeking to find/build/acquire a facility with at least 6400 square feet and a bay to store the bus from which YBC distributes its warming items to the homeless. We actively fundraise and we will raise the funds needed for this new facility. And we will continue to fundraise to purchase the warming items we need throughout this campaign. We will, and you can, help “BUILD WITH BLUE COATS”!