MEDINA, Ohio -- Each year in late January, counties nationwide participate in a tally of both sheltered and unsheltered homeless citizens. Known as the Point In Time -- or PIT -- count, the information is used to help the nation document progress toward ending homelessness and to help county agencies plan for resources needed to help.
Required nationally by the Housing and Urban Development Department (HUD), the count this year will take place on Tuesday, Jan. 22, in collaboration with the Medina Metropolitan Housing Authority's Chief Program Officer Debbie Kubena-Yatsko.
In August 2018, Leadership Medina County put together a team of 10 participants to help with this effort. Led by Richard Muniak, a director at I.D. Images LLC in Brunswick, the team is coordinating volunteers to be trained in helping with the count, organizing events to raise awareness among those experiencing homelessness to be counted, and working to connect homeless individuals with resources and services to aid them.
If you would like to volunteer to help with the count this year, use the following link to access the signup genius: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0A4FA5A92FA7FE3-medina. Please note that the count is divided into four quadrants; make sure that you are signing up for the correct one.
Events planned for January to raise awareness will occur at Lodi Methodist Church, the Brunswick Food Pantry and the Medina Salvation Army. Volunteers will receive education about how to engage in the PIT count, and bags with items containing blankets, food items and toiletries will be given away to persons in need at the events, as well as during the count.
The team plans to fill and distribute 150 personal care bags. If you would like to donate items for the bags, they may be dropped off at the Huntington Bank located at the corner of River Styx Road and Ohio 18 (3460 Medina Road) during business hours by Jan. 7.
Please note: Sizes of personal care items should be 12 ounces or less.
Personal care items: shampoo, soap, deodorant, shaving cream, razors, brushes, combs; toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss, mouthwash, body lotion, lip balm, tampons and maxi pads, baby wipes, hand sanitizer, hand warmers, mittens and hats.
Non-perishables food items: trail mix, granola bars, hot chocolate packets, tea bags, oatmeal and snack packs of crackers.