As donation drives ramp up, free clothing programs in Thunder Bay, Ont., see more clients

As social service organizations gear up for the holiday season, a number of clothing drives are happening across Thunder Bay, Ont., to help people keep safe and warm this winter.

There's the annual Spread the Warmth winter coat drive held by Gear Up For Outdoors Ltd., which benefits clients at Shelter House, Grace Place and Precious Bundles.

Then there's the UNDERCOVER Project, run by Community Clothing Assistance, which provides vouchers for families to get free socks and underwear for children ages four through 14.

Meanwhile, a number of other places offer free or low-cost clothing year-round, from the Catholic Action Centre to The Gathering Place.

"It keeps people safe on the streets. It keeps them from freezing to death. All the service agencies, providers, we all work together to make sure that no one's left out in the cold," said Melody Macsemchuk, operations manager and co-founder of Grace Place, during the launch of the annual winter coat drive.

Grace Place also offers a free clothing store at its location on Simpson Street, where it provides free meals and an overnight out-of-the-cold program that's seen additional beds added to meet rising needs.

Last month, Food Banks Canada gave Ontario a D- on its Poverty Report Card for issues of food insecurity, housing costs and social assistance levels. The poor grade comes as organizations across the country are struggling with increased demands due to a cost of living crisis that just won't let up.

In Thunder Bay, the influx of social service clients comes after a summer where the number of people known to be sleeping outside in the city nearly tripled.

Community Clothing Assistance, a non-profit organization in town, operates a thrift store on May Street. General manager Vishesh Nayyar says proceeds from the store go toward programs such as the UNDERCOVER Project.

"Inflation has been increasing [for] quite a while now and as we've seen that prices are rising, not only in just the clothing sector but every sector," Nayyar said.

"At least we can cover their clothing aspects, and socks and underwear is something which is very basic. We know the temperature in Thunder Bay goes to – 40 C sometimes and it's very harsh for them if they don't even have those basic needs."

His volunteers described how excited children are when they come in to choose pairs of socks and underwear, and their parents' emotions when bringing them in to access the program.

"Self-confidence is something which if it is gone [at a] young age, it's very hard to come by," Nayyar said. "Especially young people should be self-confident with their dignity." 

The Free Clothing Depot at The Gathering Place sees a steady supply of donations, but the number of people accessing the program on alternate Tuesdays has sharply risen in the last year, said Sonya Cahais, co-ordinator of the ministry.