Women in Business: Patty Summers

Patty Summers is the President, CEO and Founder of Youngstown Blue Coats, a 501c(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2017.

Based on her long-time experience working with homeless veterans and other homeless individuals, Patty saw the need for a group that actively served these individuals. These needs include identifying where they live – outdoors especially in the winter – and caring for and assisting them. Youngstown Blue Coats’ mission is straightforward, “In America, nobody should freeze to death.”

Patty and her team collect and distribute warming items (socks, coats, boots, gloves, hats, sleeping bags, ground mats, tents and more) to homeless individuals in the greater Youngstown/Warren and Sharon areas. She advocates for those who need assistance of any kind, health-related and otherwise. And she and her team work with diverse area agencies to provide each individual they encounter with the resources that person needs. Patty and her team are all volunteers – Youngstown Blue Coats depends entirely on volunteers. This ensures that any and all donations (cash and non-cash) benefit the homeless directly.