It’s winter, which means it’s cold outside, and people who can’t afford their own coats can be secure in the knowledge the Neighbourhood Place has used coats for those who need them.
The coats are available “to make sure that no one spends the winter without a coat, especially the little ones,” explained Keith Williams, executive director for Neighborhood Place.
People have been donating their gently used coats, hats and gloves to the program for the last 10 or 11 years, he said. “As soon as the weather gets cold they start feeling it.”
Sometimes a person will trade a coat that is too small and other times a pair of gloves is all that is needed. Williams has seen people make donations of their own hand-knitted gloves or hats. He credits Ponoka residents for making it possible.
“It never ceases to amaze me the generosity of the people of this town,” he stated. “I’m kind of proud of Ponoka in that regard.”
He had one example of two elderly women who buy an infant snow suit each year in the hopes of keeping a baby warm during the winter season. Racks donated by Liquidation World are used to display the coats up and he has already had several people needing a coat. Coats keep coming in and sometimes rotate over the season but he does run out of some sizes. “I’m always short of the men’s winter coats.”
As more come in Williams hangs them up on the coat racks and gets them ready for whoever needs something to keep warm. He finds kids’ winter clothing is in more demand than those for an adult but one thing he is certain of: “The appreciation of people receiving a coat is endless.”
Williams is accepting coats throughout the winter months and anything that is not used this year is saved for next winter.
Call Williams at 403-704-1146 for more details.