By PZNA's Neighborhood Nose's Chief Scoop Blogger

It is a common myth to believe that Poverty or Homelessness only effects 'other' people, you know, the mentally ill, drug addicts, lazy bums or ex-convicts that no one will hire. This makes it easy to not identify with a rising population of people who many were just like you, but had some bad luck. Yes, bad things do happen to good people too.

You only have to think back to November 2018, when the Nation witnessed all the residents of Paradise, California lose their homes to a wildfire. And here closer to home, at least 55,000 Texas residents are still displaced from of Hurricane Harvey which happened in 2017.

15% of all American families in homes struggle each year to provide coats for their families because it's a budget 'extra' out of reach. In other words, one in five children lives in poverty. 

In fact, recent studies suggest that the average ​American is serving paycheck to paycheck and is only one tragic event from going under not able to put money into savings. What could that unfortunate event be for you? a car accident, a six week flu that forces you to lose work, made redundant from the start-up you moved to Austin for because it ran out money before it took off?

Winters are getting longer and colder. Even a 2-degree drop in body temperature results in reduced heart rate, loss of coordination, and confusion. And life threatening Hypothermia can set in when temperatures are between 32F and 50F.

Austinites - Do you have coats in your closet you no longer wear? Help our One Warm Coat drive which starts tomorrow, January 28th through February 18th. Drop-off your gently worn coat, hat, scarf or pair of gloves to 1 of the 3 collection locations: Parque Zaragoza Recreation Center, South Austin Recreation Center or Turner-Roberts Recreation Center. Learn more here: http://www.zaragozaparkneighborhoodassn.org/coat-drive.html

By Chief Scoop Blogger

About the PZNA's East Austin Coat Drive - Spreading Warmth 
 
The Parque Zaragoza Neighborhood Association (PZNA)’s East Austin Coat Drive – Spreading Warmth’s mission is to provide new or like-new coats, gloves, scarfs and hats during Austin’s winter months to youth and adult homeless shelters, women and children's domestic abuse safe houses and/or anyone in need.

In recent years, Austin has been experiencing longer and colder winters. Life threatening Hypothermia can set in when temperatures are between 32F and 50F. But this is only one of many health risks that occur when exposed to cold weather over long periods of time. 
 
The City of Austin is working to end homelessness and get people living on the streets into housing with the health and human services required to help them remain off the streets. However, this this is not an easy fix, and will take time with projects being phased in over the next several years. 
 
Homelessness has no discretion. In November 2018, the Nation witnessed all the residents of Paradise, California lose their homes and all of their belongings in one of the worst wildfires the State of California has experienced to date. Closer to home, at least 55,000 residents in Texas are still displaced because of Hurricane Harvey. 
 
Fortunately, through One Warm Coat, PZNA members and friends can take actions to make measurable differences to help men, women and children of all ages by simply searching through our closets for that coat that no longer fits or our dresser drawers to find a forgotten pair of gloves, a scarf or hat. . 
 
Together, our East Austin community can spread warmth to our most vulnerable members in need. Let’s ensure that everyone in our community is healthy and warm. Drop-off your like-new coat, hat, scarf or pair of gloves to one of the three locations to be announced prior to drive kickoff on January 28th. Note that each location has different operation hours of business. 
 
All coats will go to East Austin shelters and those in need for free including:

• The Salvation Army Women and Children Shelter
• LifeWorks – East
• Posada Esperanza
• Casa Marianella
• Safe Alliance 

Email parquezaragozana@gmail.com if you would like to volunteer or have questions.