Upon hearing and seeing the news of Texans freezing in their homes during a winter storm in late February 2021, 20-year-old Faith McClendon was inspired to start her own form of aid in Pittsburgh.

“On Valentine’s Day, I worked with Food Not Bombs Pittsburgh. They do pop-up shops and give out sweaters, coats, hot hands and other necessities,” McClendon said. “I was out there from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., and I was freezing cold…I couldn’t even imagine having to wait out the night in that weather.”

Developing off the coast of the Pacific Northwest on Feb. 13, 2021, the winter storm barreled through the United States, specifically affecting those living in Texas and other southern states, as their infrastructure is not used to frigid and snowy weather conditions. Power outages left people freezing in their own homes, food was scarce in grocery stores and food banks, pipes froze and burst and water treatment plants failed. According to the New York Times, 58 people died from complications caused by the storm throughout the affected areas stretching from Texas to as far north as Ohio.

“Seeing people freeze to death really bothers me,” McClendon said. “So, I said to myself, let me do what I can and see who wants to help, and I’ll give whatever I can give.”

Starting Feb. 19, 2021, McClendon began collecting gently used blankets, sleeping bags, sweaters, socks and other warm items to be distributed to unhoused people in Pittsburgh. JailbreakPGH, an abolitionist jail support collective, helped McClendon spread the word for her drive through an Instagram post. McClendon has received over 20 items already, and each person who has donated has given more than one item.

Jailbreak, founded in the fall of 2019, is a self-organized group of community members who provide free support to people inside or coming out of Allegheny County Jail, according to their website. After hearing about the organization through some friends who worked with them and attending an event on New Year’s Eve going into 2021, McClendon wants to get involved as much as possible.

Another organization helping unhoused individuals in Pittsburgh is Action Housing, an organization created to empower individuals to build more secure and self-sufficient lives through the provision of affordable housing. The organization contracted Aubrey Plesh, founder of Team PSBG, beginning Nov. 18, 2020, to run a low-barrier winter shelter in McKeesport. Low barrier shelters are shelters that do not require background checks, proof of identification or any mandatory attendances. Plesh emphasizes the dire importance of unsheltered individuals to have warm items in their possession.

“Well, we don’t want these people to die,” Plesh said. “In the Pittsburgh climate, there are nights where individuals will freeze to death, and we’ve seen them freeze to death on our streets.”

The Robert Morris University student plans on distributing the blankets and other donated items during the week of March 15 at various homeless shelters in the Pittsburgh area. She doesn’t have a numerical goal but wants to give out as many items as possible.

“The best blankets to give are ones that are thick and will keep people warm,” McClendon said. “Gently used and clean too. But if that’s not possible, I’ll wash them myself. I’ll do whatever I can.”