Nov 8, 2025
photo by: Shelley Hanson
Derrick Cash of Wheeling stands in his homemade baseball dugout shelter complete with a bench and fencing to keep foul balls out during the YSS Wheeling Sleep Out on Friday. This year’s shelter theme was sports.
WHEELING — Homemade sleeping quarters creatively disguised as stadiums, baseball dugouts, race cars and more were on display during the Wheeling Sleep Out on Friday.
Hosted by Youth Services System of Wheeling, the event serves as an annual fundraiser for YSS’ Transitional Living Program, “which provides housing, life skills, employment assistance and more for young adults ages 17-21 who are experiencing homelessness, have aged out of the system of care, or otherwise find themselves without shelter and support.”
The event is usually held outdoors, but was moved inside to the YSS building because of heavy rain. Most of the sleeping quarters are made out of cardboard and would have been damaged by rainfall. This year’s theme was sports.
Derrick Cash of Wheeling made a baseball dugout complete with a bench and fencing to keep foul balls out.
“I wanted to help the transitional shelters and raise money,” Cash said, noting his girlfriend also works for YSS. “It helps the kids at a young age and helps them transition from the group homes back into society. It helps them get their own place. I think that’s important because if no one taught you anything in life you need help.”
Moundsville resident Robin Meyers and her mother Judy Meyers made a football field shelter complete with tiny players and spectators and lights.
“We do this every year,” Robin Meyers said, noting this was her third year participating and her mother’s second.
“I worked in social work for 10 years … and a lot of the individuals I worked with turned 18 and were out on the streets,” she said. “They had aged out of everything and this program supports them so they can continue to learn, get housing. It helps them buy cars and going to school and securing jobs. Those Adulting 101 skills that you don’t necessarily get in school anymore. It’s a shame that you turn 18 and you’re off the system.”
Judy Meyers said she loves participating in the Wheeling Sleep Out. She noted it took her about two weeks to build the shelter, working on it an hour or so per day.
“It’s a great cause and it increases awareness of what young people are going through,” Robin Meyers added.
Tammy Kruse, development director at YSS, said the Wheeling Sleep Out has been held annually for 14 years. She said as part of the Transitional Living Program, YSS owns an apartment building on Wheeling Island where the young adults are taught life skills. And the funds raised help with offsetting their expenses of starting to live on their own.
“If rent is $1,000 and you have to do a deposit as well, to move into a place you need to have $2,000. And that’s just to get a key,” she said. “That doesn’t include anything in the apartment. That doesn’t include any of your utilities. It doesn’t help with your food either. … We’re filling the gaps so they don’t end up homeless and in places where they don’t want to be that’s not healthy for them. Because now they have a place to live, a place to call home.”
A prize was set to be handed out for the top individual fundraiser, who would get their choice of Steelers game tickets or a two-night stay at Oglebay’s Wilson Lodge. Trophies were also slated to be handed out after the judging of shelters.
At press time, $22,841 had been raised with the goal being $50,000. To donate online, visit https://www.youthservicessystem.org/.
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