AKRON, Ohio — The winter can be deadly for the unsheltered population in Ohio.

What You Need To Know

  • The Peter Maurin Center in Akron opens an overnight shelter when it's 15 degrees and below outside 

  • The shelter is run by volunteers 

  • The center is hosting a drive to help those who are unsheltered in Akron
​David Churbock, the director of The Peter Maurin Center in Akron, said when temperatures get too low, the center opens their doors to let people experiencing homelessness stay overnight. 

“When the temperatures get to be 15 degrees or lower, we go out to the campsites, and under the bridges and to the library and the bus station and we look for unsheltered individuals,” Churbock said. “We’ve had experience with people losing their fingers, their toes and their lives.” 

They have been providing overnight stays for 10 years, but last year was their busiest yet. 

 “We were open a total of 40 nights last year which was a record," Churbock said. "The most we had been open in the previous nine or eight years was 27 nights. We had a total of 226 people.” 

Now, they are hosting a drive called "No One Should Sleep Out in the Cold" to help this vulnerable population on nights the shelter is not open. 

Some of the items needed include:

  • Boots - waterproof, men's (10-12), women's (all sizes)
  • Hoodies - men's w/zipper, L, XL (Fruit of the Loom - cotton)
  • Flashlight and Batteries - any
  • Backpacks - daypack adult type - sizes: 20L or 40L
  • Hand Warmers - many needed
  • Socks - large athletic or wool - many needed
  • Gloves – brown jersey or thermal
  • Boxer Briefs - men, all sizes, Gildan covered waistband multipack
  • Underwear - women, all sizes, cotton briefs
  • Meal Cards - McDonalds, Burger King, Subway, etc. 
  • One Day Akron Metro Bus Passes
  • Money - 100% goes towards the homeless

For more information on the Peter Maurin Center, click here.