Youth Services System.
The name of the non-profit for which she works really sizes up what Tammy Kruse has adopted as a life mission. The organization operates a plethora of programs that benefit young people from throughout the state of West Virginia and beyond, and YSS also has partnered with many community members to care for the region’s homeless population, as well.
And, as development director, it is Kruse’s job to raise the funds so life-changing assistance can be offered every day of every week with a true level of comforting compassion. But now that the YSS Winter Freeze Shelter has closed until December, unknown challenges mount. How will the coronavirus CV-19 pandemic impact the homeless in the area? What extra precautions are necessary at the organization’s facilities housing juveniles, and where do the dollars come from to afford them?
What about fundraisers during a time when the Center for Disease Control has recommended no crowd larger than 50 individuals? What about health care, hand sanitizer, and soap and water that most folks take for granted?
Yup. That’s her mission.
With the Winter Freeze Shelter closing, what efforts are being made for the people who now will not have a safe place to spend their overnights?
We are securing as many people as possible in housing; we are renting three apartments to house families and are working with Street MOMs and other organizations to continue to help folks obtain permanent housing. For those who don’t get into housing, we will do our best to give them a tent and sleeping bag and will continue to work with them for permanent housing.
How many folks stayed at the Winter Freeze Shelter this year?
Over the last 11 years, we have opened our central office building at night and welcomed in the most vulnerable members of our community. When the Salvation Army in Wheeling reverted back to an old policy to house only men, we opened our shelter a month early, just for women. The generosity of our community who fed the hungry, clothed the needy, and looked after the sick helped over 250 people during this year’s Winter Freeze Shelter. We will host a Soup Social to thank our supporters and then start planning for Dec. 15, 2020, opening of the 2020-21 Winter Freeze Shelter.
Will the focus of the annual Sleepover change to tents since that is being used now instead of cardboard boxes?
In a word, no, and I’ll explain why. The Wheeling SleepOut is a peer-to-peer fundraiser which has brought in over $385,000 for our Transitional Living Program. We continue to use cardboard because it provides a blank slate that encourages team building. They are judged on how well their structure promotes awareness of youth homelessness. It’s a family-friendly event and the cardboard is recycled the next morning. A few people sleep out in tents instead of their structures, but no tent stakes are permitted on the field. It’s a cold night, but we SleepOut so kids don’t have to. www.wheelingsleepout.org
What are the best parts of serving as Development Director for YSS?
This is a hard question because there are so many “best parts.“ First, we have to recognize the kids who are in our care don’t choose to be here. Best part, the moment a kid realizes that we are here to help and won’t give up on them. Second, the donors. They support our unfunded or underfunded programs such as Lazarus House, homeless women and children, and the Winter Freeze Shelter. Third, the staff. Working with people who are compassionate, have mercy and, are humble. The staff at YSS cares about lifting people up, making a positive difference and giving hope.
What do you do to relax when not busy raising the funds that allow YSS to be a successful organization for the Upper Ohio Valley and beyond?
I spend time in the evening cooking dinner with my husband and then sit down for dinner as a family. Friday movie nights also are a way we relax together. I am itching for the weather to break so we can go kayaking, biking, hiking, camping, gardening, and visiting Lake Erie. I also enjoy painting, drawing, and yoga whenever time allows. I end my busy day by reading a good book before bed.
