Community

Ferns Family Donates $10,000 to YSS Winter Freeze Shelter

BENWOOD - Youth Services System has received a $10,000 donation from the Ferns family to assist the service agency in sheltering the homeless as the winter grows colder.

The check presentation took place Wednesday at the Ferns' businesses, A&B Kia and the Ryan Ferns Health Plex.

YSS CEO John Moses said he received a call from Mike Ferns Sr. shortly after the Salvation Army in Wheeling announced in September it would close its doors to women and families and provide homeless services only to men.

"When Mike called, you could tell he was troubled about what was happening with women and families," Moses said. "It was so evident he was concerned.

"Unfortunately, we live in a time when people have to worry about their own concerns and they often just walk by those less fortunate. He did not."

Moses said YSS gathered people from the local community to brainstorm ideas for what could be done for homeless women living in tents in Wheeling as the cold weather approached. They then opened their cold weather shelter a month early on Nov. 15.

The money from the Ferns family, and that donated by others in the community, will help to keep the shelter in operation, according to Moses.

In addition, YSS this year is renting two apartments which are being made available to homeless families in need of shelter.

"These are intended to be a temporary response to their situation," Moses said. "We work with them to get employment, and we continue to work with them until they are able to fly on their own."

YSS is presently working with four homeless families in the city, according to Moses.

Ryan Ferns, owner of the Ryan Ferns Health Plex, said he and older brother Mike Ferns Sr., owner of A&B Kia, take guidance from their father Mike Sr. in helping the community.

"He is of the belief that as a family, we have been blessed, and it is part of our purpose to help the community," Ryan Ferns said.

The family seeks to give throughout the year, and "evaluates needs on a case-by-case basis," he said.