2018 Christmas Emergency Fund benefits 2 groups that help York's homeless neighbors

Jaleny Reyes | York Daily Record

Show Caption Hide Caption The Coffee Spot offers refreshments and services to York's homeless The Coffee Spot at the York Salvation Army building hosts 16-18 homeless people on a typical day. The center offers refreshments and mail service.

There was a time when Patricia Ayers was homeless, wandering the streets of New Jersey for about two years.

"It was terrible,” Ayers said. “I was living in shelters, sharing a room with people. It was horrible.”

Ayers had a home, a place where she felt safe and comfortable. But that suddenly changed on Aug. 3, 2007. She said it was all part of a misunderstanding, saying she was blamed for drugs and gang association that she "had nothing to do with."

She was forced to move out of her home, left with nothing. With no family or friends, she was lost. “It brought a lot of depression to me,” she said.

In time, she decided to relocate to York County, where her son and daughter lived. Ayers moved in with her two kids, but she was still not comfortable and knew she needed a place of her own.

“The house was extremely crowded, so there was always arguments,” she said.

Ayers began searching for help, looking at other organizations in the county that could help her with housing and resources. She looked into Bell Socialization Services, where she recalls obtaining services with supportive housing, cooking and grocery shopping.

Through Bell Socialization Services, Ayers was able to find a place of her own, but she was still missing a human connection.

She stumbled upon The Coffee Spot inside the Salvation Army of York, a space that first opened in the summer of 2018.

The Coffee Spot is operated by York CARES, a York County nonprofit organization ran by Eric Chase.

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Now Ayers stops in every day. There, she has found people she can talk to – including Jason Query, the lead coordinator for the center.

“I like coming here because it’s a lot of fun,” Ayer said. “I talk to the people and drink coffee.”

She pointed to volunteers and recited their names. She has made a connection with most of them.

But it’s not all fun and games. Ayers said the Coffee Spot is helping her find a job.

She is thankful for "the man up above" for taking her off the streets.

The Coffee Spot operates Monday through Friday, 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Recently, the center relocated to the Heidelberg United Church of Christ on West Philadelphia Street. Volunteers held a Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday, Nov. 17 in celebration of their new location.

Inside the church, volunteers continue to provide the same resources for their homeless neighbors — which include coffee and snacks, a place to charge cell phones, pick up mail and connect with service agencies.

Carol Ober is another neighbor who frequents the Coffee Spot. She's been coming in since it first opened in the summer.

“I live right up the street,” Ober said. “I was walking by and seen the place and decided to come in and check it out, and I’ve been coming ever since.”

Ober spends most of her time playing cards and often comes in with some of her family members. She said it gives her an excuse to get out of the house.

Eric Chase, CEO of Children's Aid Society, which acts as financial agent for the effort, said the space was created for individuals to come in and feel safe. He said the ultimate vision is for York CARES to have its own center where volunteers can continue to provide these resources.

About the Christmas Emergency Fund

Each holiday season, the York Daily Record offers readers the opportunity to help our community through the Christmas Emergency Fund.

The beneficiaries of this year’s fund are LifePath Christian Ministries and York CARES – two nonprofits that assist our community’s homeless population.

LifePath (formerly the York Rescue Mission) operates a shelter in York City for homeless people and provides many other services.

York CARES operates The Coffee Spot – a place where homeless neighbors can go during the day for coffee and conversation, to recharge their cell phones, pick up their mail and connect with service agencies that can help them. The Coffee Spot recently moved from the Salvation Army building to Heidelberg United Church of Christ on West Philadelphia Street.

York Traditions Bank has long partnered with YDR in this effort, accepting donations mailed in by readers, accounting for the funds and disbursing them – all free of charge so every penny goes to help local folks.

Please consider giving generously. Checks can be mailed to: YDR Christmas Emergency Fund C/O York Traditions Bank, 226 Pauline Drive, York, PA 17402-0136.

Current total: $7,344.51

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