Editorial: Big need for coats, blankets

Monday, Oct. 20, 2003 | 9:07 a.m.

Already it's too cold at night to be outside in your shirtsleeves. In a few weeks it will be too cold, for most of us, to be out very long at night even while wearing a jacket. Many in the valley's homeless population, however, will soon be suffering through winter nights with no shelter, no warm coat, and no blanket to ward off the cold -- unless individuals and community groups begin now to change that prospect.

For the past 11 years in Las Vegas, thousands of coats and blankets have been handed out at the Stand Down for the Homeless event held every fall at Cashman Center. At this year's Stand Down, however, which is set for Oct. 29, there will be haircuts, dental care, job listings and other services -- but few blankets and coats to give away. The Defense Department, which in the past has supplied most of the blankets, this year claimed it never received an application for them. The Key Foundation, a local nonprofit group that always receives and distributes the blankets, says it sent in the paperwork months ago. The bottom line is that the 2,500 blankets that the Defense Department normally supplies will not be available.

Compounding the problem for the homeless is the likelihood that coats, too, will be in short supply. For the past three years, Station Casinos employees -- who each month work to assist a specific nonprofit group -- have led a community coat drive in October. All of the coats they collected were donated to homeless people at the Stand Down. This year, however, the employees voted to assist the Make A Wish Foundation in October.

The blankets and coats will be sorely missed, particularly when considering the paucity of shelter in the Las Vegas Valley. There has never been anywhere close to the number of shelters needed and this year will be even worse, with about 400 fewer beds than last year due to cutbacks by the city of Las Vegas and charitable organizations. There is still more than a week to go before the Stand Down. Perhaps individuals and some other groups could step up this year and donate some coats and blankets. It would be a gesture that would reflect well on our community. Individuals and groups can get started by calling the Salvation Army at 870-4430, ext. 23.