COLD WEATHER WARNING!!!

CARLENE LUCKE
6 days ago
2 min read

CODE RED: Snow is Coming and 25 Children Need Shelter NOW

This is not a long-term plan; this is a crisis call.

In our community, tonight, there are approximately 25 children and youth under the age of 19 sleeping outside. Soon, they will be facing the bitter reality of incoming snow and freezing temperatures. For these young people, this isn't just discomfort—it's a life-or-death emergency.

We talk about building community, wellness, and lasting legacies—but there is no wellness without basic safety, warmth, and shelter. The time for planning is over; the time for direct, immediate action is now.

The True Cost of Cold

The risks facing unsheltered youth in winter are immediate and severe:

Hypothermia and Frostbite: Exposure to cold, especially when wet, can lead to permanent injury or fatality within hours.
Increased Vulnerability: Lack of safe, warm space increases the risk of illness, violence, and exploitation.
Crushing Isolation: The holiday season, combined with extreme weather, amplifies feelings of loneliness and despair.

We cannot, in good conscience, let another night pass knowing these young people are facing the elements alone.

3 Immediate Ways You Can Help Today

We need every member of our community to mobilize. Whether you can give time, money, or resources, your contribution can immediately move a child from the street into warmth.

1. Donate to Local Youth Shelters and Outreach

Financial donations are the fastest way to open new emergency beds, activate warming centers, and fund outreach teams. Every dollar covers the cost of:

One Warm Night: Funding a bed, a hot meal, and a shower.
Winter Gear: Purchasing extreme-weather socks, gloves, hats, and coats.
Emergency Transportation: Ensuring outreach teams can safely transport youth to shelter when temperatures drop.

Action Item: Contact your local community foundation or established youth services agency (like Covenant House, a local youth drop-in centre, or the Salvation Army) and earmark your donation for "Winter Youth Emergency Services."

2. Assemble and Donate Survival Kits

Gather the following items and drop them off at your nearest community center, library, or established shelter. They are needed today:

Hand and foot warmers (instant activation)
Thick, wool-blend socks (new only)
Non-perishable snacks (energy bars, crackers, trail mix)
Small, waterproof tarps or emergency blankets
A note with contact information for the local 211 service or a specific youth helpline.

3. Volunteer Your Time or Space

Shelters and warming centres always need extra hands during extreme weather alerts.

Volunteer: Offer a few hours to help serve meals, sort donations, or simply provide a welcoming presence.
Advocate: Call your local municipal or provincial representatives and demand that they immediately open Extreme Weather Response (EWR) shelters.

The success of the Yellow Cedar Project is about building a beautiful, lasting future. But a future requires a present where our children are safe. Let’s make our lasting legacy the commitment we show to one another in this critical moment.

No one should freeze on our streets. Let’s act now.