LOS ANGELES — It’s supposed to be 90 degrees in Los Angeles today, but that isn’t stopping the city’s department of Sanitation and Environment from launching its first Spread the Warmth Blanket Drive Monday. Designed to help L.A.’s unsheltered residents before the cold weather arrives, the blanket drive runs through the end of October.
“We recognize there’s a big need out there, and we know a lot of people have been staying home because of the pandemic and cleaning out their closets,” said Marcie Reyes, division manager for LASAN citywide recycling. “We thought this would be a great opportunity for them to donate the blankets and sleeping bags that they no longer need.”
The city is accepting washed, cleaned, and gently used blankets and sleeping bags at its six district yards from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays through October 30. The blankets will be distributed through LASAN’s Livability Services Division, which already provides mobile hygiene units, clothing, and a tent exchange to the homeless community.
“When they come to a mobile hygiene center to shower and clean up is great a time to provide them with a blanket,” said Reyes, adding that donating used quilts and comforters fits with the department’s mission of waste reduction.
LASAN has been holding blanket drives with city employees for the past several years. Its last collection, in February, netted 225 pounds of blankets that were donated to local nonprofits. Spread the Warmth is the first collection the department has conducted that is open to the public.
LASAN is hoping to get the blankets into the hands of the people who need them before it begins to rain.
“There’s a big misconception that because we live in sunny, beautiful California that temperatures don’t drop significantly,” said Melody Jaramillo-Alvarado, director of community engagement for the homeless housing and services provider, L.A. Family Housing. “Someone experiencing homelessness outdoors who’s not prepared could be at risk of hypothermia.”
Hypothermia can occur when an individual is exposed to cold air, water, wind, or rain even at a temperature as seemingly mild as 50 degrees. More homeless people passed away in L.A. last year than in New York due to hypothermia, Jaramillo-Alvarado said.
“A warm blanket would help protect them from the outdoors," she added.
More than 66,000 people experienced homelessness during the last L.A. County homeless count, conducted in January.
“Outdoors is not a suitable place for humans to live. Period,” Jaramillo-Alvarado said. “Unfortunately, there’s not enough shelter beds, affordable housing, or permanent supportive housing to bring everyone indoors, so the next best remedy is harm reduction.”