Here’s How You Can Help During The Cold Snap

If you have been outside today, you've noticed that the cold is finally starting to settle in here in Amarillo. Now, I made the foolish mistake of bringing just my hoodie and light jacket instead of my down coat. a situation I can remedy later on this afternoon. But not all of us are that fortunate.

Cold snaps like these are hard on folks who don't have much and doubly so for those who don't have a warm place to call home. An overpass wont keep you sheltered when the temperatures fall below freezing for days on end. And I don't really particularly like hearing about the unfortunate ones who succumbed to the cold.

Enter the fine folks over at Code Blue Amarillo, a collaborative effort between 13 different non-profits here in the Texas panhandle. Code Blue Amarillo isn't a traditional shelter, but they help fill the gap for those who may not be able to get one right away by providing warm wear such as gloves, coats, head gear and warming supplies. Their purpose is to assist not just the people out in the cold, but also the oft-overlooked animals that frequently accompany them. With the freezing cold and far-reaching effects of the pandemic driving up the homeless rates here in the panhandle, they are expecting an increased demand and have asked the public for a little help.

The organization could use help gathering supplies such as masks, hand warmers, coats, scarves, gloves and other food related items to help those in need. And of course monetary donations also can go a long way in purchasing supplies.

And why not? It hasn't been an easy year for any of us but helping those who need it most always has a way of coming back.