Yucaipa Woman Warms Homeless For Holidays By Hanging Coats From Trees
YUCAIPA (CBSLA.com) — A Yucaipa woman is not letting her battles with cancer and multiple sclerosis stop her from providing warmth for local people in need for the winter.
Carrie Ellison is now retired, but she finds herself working harder than ever to help the homeless. She has two closets that are filled to capacity with coats, but as she puts it, none of them belong to her.
After loading the coats into her car, Ellison drives around, hanging the coats on trees and other spots around Yucaipa, along with a note that reads, "I have lost my human. Are you cold? Will you wear me?".
"We are currently doing a coat project, and I would love to see people dressed in these for the holidays," Ellison described. "Then I take my note and I pin it to one of my jackets. We like to (place) these so they can be found."
Ellison hung 10 coats with notes around Yucaipa for the homeless in one weekend alone, relieved to find that they had all been claimed.
"I've gotten many phone calls and texts from people saying we've seen one of your jackets on a person walking down the street, so knowing that they are being collected by those that need them," Ellison said.
Ellison avoids potential problems with the city by hanging the coats on trees that are on private property.
Local passersby say they don't mind the sight of coats hanging from trees, knowing they are going to a good cause.
"It will come in handy for someone," resident James Ringo said.
Despite her own personal medical challenges, Ellison says spreading warmth before the cold season brings her comfort.
"It warms the cockles of my heart. What can I say?"
Anyone interested in helping in the effort can get more info by clicking here.
