DAYTON, Ohio — Imagine walking the streets in single degree temperatures without boots, a coat, or even a blanket to keep warm.

One Ohio nonprofit known for their response during natural disasters is turning their attention to helping neighbors in need right in their own community.

What You Need To Know

  • Ohio Home Builders is helping to collect cold weather donations for people in need

  • Recently, the group helped rebuild in Appalachian communities in North Carolina after Hurricane Helene

  • The biggest need for people in Springfield are boots, coats and cold weather essentials

  • The next project for Ohio Hope Builders is collecting enough materials to build a shower trailer for disaster relief and for people experiencing homelessness

“There’s probably 80 totes here. When disaster strikes we can hit the road running,” said Ohio Hope Builders President Casey Tingley.

Spectrum News 1 first caught up with Tingley and the organization based in Springfield when they returned from helping hurricane victims in the Appalachian regions of North Carolina.

“We’ve sent people on 12 trips since hurricane Helene hit,” he said.

This recent round of winter weather is promoting a quick response, this time much closer to home.

They’re rounding up donations for people in shelters and in the local warming center.  

“There’s some folks there that need warm boots because there’s snow on the ground and they’re walking the streets so they need to keep their feet warm. Whether it’s men or women boots, they’re in desperate need over there,” Tingley said.

 The group’s compassion is nothing short of contagious.

“He’s my neighbor and I didn’t even know it. He lives four or five houses down the street and I didn’t even know it,” said volunteer Belinda Joy.

 Joy started helping during the hurricane.

“I went to drop off donations and never left,” she said.

This latest effort pulls at her heart. 

“We all have our stories. I lost a son to drugs. There were times I had to make him homeless,  I had other times I put him in jail, I had to make those tough decisions. I feel for them. I get it. That’s somebody’s kid out there,” she said.

Out in the community is exactly where Tingley will be going.

A recent donation brought a school bus.  

“It’s got the proper shelving we need so we can load it up with totes and when disaster strikes we can hit the road running. Also we’re looking forward to going out here around our community,” said Tingley.

Inside the donation center, the work continues and another project is in the making. 

“Our next project is, we’re going to be building shower trailers for disaster relief and also for right here in our community to give the homeless a place to shower. So we’re currently doing some fund raising and find some people to donate materials,” he said.

Tingley says he’s confident the materials will come and the mission will continue. 

“I’m just a guy with a name just serving a purpose and all these people in our community are the true heroes. There are some great people in this city that come together. Our motto is ‘we’re joining hands to change lives’ and that’s what we’re really doing,” he said.

Ohio Hope Builders is hosting a raffle to help with the building costs for the shower trailer. 

Each day in February a ticket will be pulled and prizes given away.

If you’d like to donate, become involved, or learn more, Tingley says the best way is to follow the Ohio Hope Builders Facebook page.