INDIANAPOLIS — As the Midwest braces for a winter storm, Hoosiers in central Indiana need help.
Organizations have been reaching out to make sure people in need stay warm.
According to the latest research from Indiana University, there were more than 1,900 people experiencing homelessness in Marion County.
13News met up with Maria Tuesday in downtown Indianapolis. Maria is a single mother of a 5-month-old who's in need.
"It's been rough. Really rough. I've tried to hide that pain and put a smile on my face every day, even though I have so much pain inside," she said.
Maria has experienced homelessness, sleeping on the streets of Indianapolis. She's now staying with a friend and trying to get back on her feet. She has been coming to Horizon House for about four years.
"It takes its toll on our neighbors experiencing homelessness," said Judy Neuman, director of development and communications for Horizon House.
Neuman said workers are doing as much as they can to help their neighbors in need.
"As it gets colder, our service center is more busy. It's more packed with our neighbors just trying to get away from the coldness outside," said Neuman.
Donations of winter supplies have been pouring in with coats, blankets, thermal socks and more.
When they run out of gloves, they have to improvise.
"We actually take thermal socks and give them to our outreach team, and they take them to our neighbors on the streets and so they wore them on their hands, and they wore them on their hands instead of their feet because we don't have the gloves to provide to them," said Neuman.
As temperatures are expected to dive below zero, there's also a concern for hypothermia and frostbite.
"We refer them to our medical center which is Pedigo, which is part of Eskenazi, right next door to us to get help immediately," said Neuman.
Maria said help is appreciated, but she wants her fellow Hoosiers to know one thing.
"I want people to understand that there are homeless people out there that really need assistance and really want help in changing their lives," she said.
It's something Maria has been trying to do so she doesn't have to go back to sleeping on the streets.
"I was really sad, like, 'How did I come to this? This can't be it,'" she said. "I was just thinking so many thoughts in my head. 'This isn't what I want. I have to change it.' So, if you wanna change, then you have to go out and do what you need to do to get it done."
Maria is taking it one day at a time.