AKRON, Ohio – The Akron Snow Angels, an all-volunteer nonprofit that offers winter clothing, shoes, toiletries and food to people experiencing or facing homelessness, has added mission trips this year to help meet demand.
“We used to start our missions in November, but this year started in October because so many people have reached out to us this year needing help,” Akron Snow Angels founder Erin Victor said. “We wanted to help people get shoes, toiletries and proper winter clothing right away.”
The organization holds two missions per month through March, 2023 and serves Akron’s Middlebury and Grace Park neighborhoods. Approximately 40-60 volunteers help with each mission -- passing out coats, winter clothing, toiletries, shoes and serving lunch. The volunteers also aim to show the community members they help compassion, respect and “friendship through conversation,” according to Victor.
“No one is paid, we’re all just community members helping community members,” she said.
At its last mission on Nov. 20, the organization served 120 people but still ran out of winter coats, Victor said.
Victor started the Akron Snow Angels in February, 2015 as a single mission to deliver warm clothing to Akronites experiencing homelessness. Today, the organization also serves community members who are struggling, Victor said.
“There are different definitions of homelessness but we just want to help people in need,” she said. “We’ve had a major influx of people just having a hard time and needing a place to live. We also try to help people stay in their homes so they aren’t back out on the street.”
The Snow Angels partners with agencies to connect people in need with essential services. They also work with Project Rise and the Summa Clothing Room, Victor said.
The next mission is scheduled for Dec. 11 (10:15-10:45 a.m. in Middlebury and 11-11:45 a.m. in Grace Park). Lunch will also be served.
A Dec. 25 Christmas mission is also planned, according to Victor. The Christmas missions were led by Larry “Bo” Williams, who died in August. Now his son, Ty Williams, will lead the mission. It’s scheduled from 10-11 a.m. at Grace Park and features food, cookies and time to socialize.
The organization accepts monetary donations and is working on finalizing a donation drop-off location in the coming weeks, which it will share on its Facebook page, according to Victor. Volunteers are needed to help sort inventory and go on mission trips, according to Victor.
To help raise funds for missions, the Snow Angels holds two fundraisers each year: a golf outing and the Laughing with Snow Angels comedy night, which is scheduled for Friday, Jan. 27. At the comedy night, the organization will present the James E. Sovacool Jr. Volunteer of the Year award to Sam and Claudia Crea. The 2022 Akron Snow Angels Bob Mandala Company of the Year award will go to SeibertKeck Insurance Partners. Community members who are interested in purchasing tickets to the event can do so on the Akron Snow Angels website in the coming weeks, according to Victor.
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