Greetings,
I’m Al “Sarge” Raddatz, CEO and one of the founding members of The Sub Zero Mission. As we welcome the spring of 2026, I am honored to share this annual report with our Board of Directors, donors, supporters, volunteers, employees, and every individual who believes in our Mission.
This winter was the coldest Northeast Ohio has experienced since 1977. Prolonged cold snaps, dangerous wind chills, and sustained subfreezing temperatures created life‑threatening conditions for those living unsheltered. The severity of this season tested our systems, our stamina, and our resolve. It also revealed the strength of our commitment.
For the first time in our history, The Sub Zero Mission was officially approved to operate as an Emergency Overnight Shelter for Code Blue. Code Blue is an official protocol, designated when temperatures are below 10 degrees and reach 0 or below with other conditions, such as wind. During this protocol, local administrators and nonprofits team up to ensure that people experiencing homelessness have someplace to go.
This milestone represents years of growth, trust building, and operational discipline. It reflects the confidence our community has placed in us not only to deliver life‑saving warming items, but to provide direct shelter during extreme weather emergencies.
During the 2025–2026 winter season, our Warming Center was activated 19 times and remained open for 19 total days. A total of 255 individuals sought refuge within our facility during life‑threatening conditions.
For nearly seventeen years, our Mission has centered on delivering warmth directly to those on the streets. This season, we expanded that impact. When temperatures reached dangerous levels, we opened our doors and provided heat, safety, and dignity. We did not simply respond to crisis we stood prepared for it.
Our growth as an Emergency Shelter is rooted in a promise that began on a freezing night during our very first outreach. Nearly seventeen years ago, we encountered two Veterans living beneath a bridge in our hometown. Walking away that evening felt profoundly wrong. Their circumstances were not only heartbreaking, but they were also unacceptable. In that moment, I made a commitment that we would do more than offer temporary relief.
That promise continues to guide every decision we make.
Our team made up of Veterans and family members of Veterans works tirelessly out of respect for those who have served and sacrificed. At its core, our Mission is about preventing loss of life due to homelessness in freezing conditions. Beyond that, it is about finding and re‑empowering the veterans who once defended our freedoms and ensuring they are not forgotten.
Throughout this season, our team planned with intention, trained rigorously, collaborated with partners, strengthened safety protocols, expanded outreach efforts, gathered and distributed critical warming items, and hosted meaningful fundraising initiatives. Every individual associated with The Sub Zero Mission demonstrated extraordinary dedication.
I am deeply proud of what our team accomplished during one of the harshest winters in decades. From long‑standing members to those who joined us this year, each person embodied what we call Blue Fire. Their passion, discipline, and compassion allowed us to meet historic challenges with unwavering focus.
Together, we are proving that Nobody Should Freeze To Death In America.
