Organizations that help the homeless need donations as cold weather hits

SALT LAKE CITY— The Fourth Street Clinic in downtown Salt Lake City will help thousands of homeless people with medical needs this year.

Last year, they had 24,000 appointments for 6,000 people. This year, they will hit that number this week. It demonstrates a rise in homelessness that is affecting the entire state. Each year, the number goes up by roughly 10%. That’s not the case with resources.

Related: Volunteers of America Utah opens 16-bed residential treatment program for homeless men

There are four primary shelters in the Salt Lake Valley under ‘The Road Home.’ The organization houses roughly 1,000 people every night. Approximately 300 of those are at the family shelter in Midvale.

The need for donations turns immediate when the weather makes an abrupt turn like it did this week. In fact, at the clinic, Fourth Street Clinic CEO Janida Emerson said they don’t have a single blanket, tarp, or sleeping bag to hand out. While they’re not a shelter, they often work with those who will never make it to a shelter and will spend the night out in the cold.

“We’re really in desperate need of blankets, sleeping bags, tarps, anything that can help keep somebody warm while they’re outside,” Emerson said.

She said the organization will take blanket donations during business hours, and those blankets and tarps will be put to use.

“If you can bring it, we will get it out into the community,” Emerson said.

At the Connie Crosby Family Resource Center in Midvale, the donation room looks full. But Rachel Felton, marketing specialist, said that with 1,000 people to serve, these donations go fast. And there’s always a shortage of warm, winter gear and new socks and underwear.

Read the full story from KSL TV.