The 12th annual “Warm Hearts, Warm Hands” blanket drive, a project of Miracles R Real Outreach, Inc. is underway, with distribution scheduled for December 12. The goal of the Bear Creek-based organization is to provide warmth and essential winter items to approximately 2,000 homeless and underserved men, women, and children throughout Houston and surrounding communities, said Yolanda Gail Ford, founder and executive director.

Community drop-off locations officially began accepting donations on October 26. Drop-off locations, collection deadlines, and additional information are listed on the organization’s website and include these locations serving the greater Katy area:

· Living Word Church – 16607 Clay Road, Houston

· Miracles R Real Outreach Center – 16618 Clay Road, Suite 680, Houston

All donated items must be new:

· New twin-size blankets

· New gloves

· New socks

· New winter beanies

· New hygiene and personal care items


Miracles R Real works with First Class Transportation, which has generously donated a charter bus for the outreach. A U-Haul follows the bus carrying the donated items, Ford said.

“Our volunteers, business partners, and sponsors travel with us to various facilities and locations throughout Houston and surrounding areas,” she said. “We personally place these items directly into the hands of the individuals we serve. We do not normally leave donations at facilities for distribution. Our team personally distributes them to clients at participating facilities and to homeless individuals living on the streets.”

Ford confirmed that distribution locations for the 12th Annual Warm Hearts, Warm Hands Blanket Drive include:

· Lords of the Streets – Street Outreach Location

· Covenant House Texas

· Emancipation Park – Street Outreach Location

· Wellspring Village, Inc.

· Mission of Yahweh

· Harmony House

· Magnificat House, Inc.

· Open Door Mission

· Turning Point Center


“We are continuing to coordinate additional locations as we prepare for distribution day,” Ford said. “Our website provides additional information about our nonprofit, programs, blanket drive, and participating collection locations: https://miraclesrreal.org/annual-blanket-drive/.”