Veterans group donates money, warming items to Sub Zero Mission

Nov. 10—A group of area veterans recently donated $15,000 and 11 boxes of warming items to Sub Zero Mission, a Painesville Township nonprofit that provides the items to the homeless.

Members of Warriors@Amazon, a group for veterans at the online retail company, brought the donations to Sub Zero's headquarters on Nov. 10. According to Amazon regional public relations specialist Paula Morrison, they came from the company's Euclid and North Randall fulfillment centers.

"I think it's an honor to be able to help veterans who have fallen, anyone who has fallen on hard times," said Kell Ferrel, a former U.S. Marine who now works at the North Randall center.

Zak Zaremba, an employee at the Euclid center and U.S. Army veteran, mentioned that this was an opportunity "to do more than just deliver for customers...but also be able to interact and donate goods to those less fortunate."

Warriors@Amazon seeks to provide support for both veterans in the community and veterans working at Amazon, Ferrel said.

Sub Zero founder and CEO Al Raddatz expressed appreciation for the donation, noting the impact of rising costs.

"I looked out my office window today and the price of diesel fuel was $5.99 a gallon, which is going to be a huge hit for us. It's an additional $5,000 for us this year," he said.

Explaining the impact of the donated items, Raddatz added, "The warming items will definitely be used. We'll hand out over 20,000 items this year. We'll hand out over 3,500 coats, and all of these will go to somebody who really needs it. It won't sit on a shelf inside a shelter. It will go to somebody who will actually use it that night. It will save a life."

Sub Zero Mission provides warming items to the homeless and connects homeless veterans with resources available to them, noted volunteer Rick Walker.

The organization will hold a grand opening for a new warehouse and warming center on Nov. 13, said Director of Marketing and Communications James Hido in an email. The event will run from noon to 4 p.m. at 1760 North Ridge Road (Route 20) in Painesville Township.

More information on the nonprofit is available at subzeromission.org.

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