This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

As winter weather rolls into the Salt Lake Valley, the Volunteers of America Youth Resource Center is in "dire need" of more winter coats, said VOA spokeswoman DeAnn Zebelean.

The Salt Lake Tribune is inviting readers to help us support the VOA, a nonprofit that helps homeless teens, this holiday season. Its new Youth Resource Center is seeking donations of warm clothing, blankets and cash; new or gently used coats are especially needed.

The center provides services and overnight shelter to homeless people ages 15 to 22 at 888 S. 400 West in Salt Lake City.

On the next three Fridays — Dec. 2, Dec. 9 and Dec. 16 — Tribune staff will accept donations from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the center.

For each donation worth $25 made during those hours, donors will receive a raffle ticket to enter into a drawing for one of four prizes: A signed Pat Bagley print, a screening party with Tribune TV critic Scott Pierce to see a show before it airs for the general public, lunch with columnist Robert Kirby or a behind-the-scenes Utah Jazz experience, including a spot at the postgame news conference.

Find details about the prizes at sltrib.com/holidaycharity. If you'd like to receive raffle tickets but need to make alternative arrangements to drop off items, please contact dara@sltrib.com. All donations are tax deductible.

Or if you want to make a donation earlier in the week and prefer to pass on the raffle, the center accepts items any time between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Monday through Friday.

The greatest needs for the VOA's Youth Resource Center include:

• Cash donations and $5 gift cards for fast food restaurants and grocery stores.

• Coats, jackets and rain ponchos; gloves; winter socks and boots; hand warmers and thermals.

• Men's jeans, sizes 32, 34, 36.

• Sleeping bags, tents and tarps.

• Meals that can be directly eaten from the can (including chili, stew, soup and spaghetti) and granola bars.

• Baby diapers (size 5 and 6) and baby wipes.

• Bike tire repair kits

• Bus tokens