The gift of warmth: Community groups begin donation drive for winter clothing
CBC
From coats in Corner Brook, to mittens across the Avalon, the giving season has begun.
The Christmas Miracles campaign, based in St. John’s, is underway in support of The Gathering Place to provide “blessing bags” to guests during the holiday season.
Each bag contains hats, mitts, socks and toiletries.
Collections run until Dec. 12, and the group is accepting donations of new adult hats, gloves and socks.
The effort is sponsored by local businesses and this year added fire departments across the northeast Avalon.
The collaboration is one that the program’s founder, Leslie Rideout, has welcomed. She said it’ll provide convenient places for folks to bring their donations.
“You know, it's hard this time of year to always ask people for a big monetary donation. Not everybody can do that. Not everybody has the means," Rideout said.
"But a lot of people just want to help."
Drop off points include the Central Fire Station in St. John’s, fire stations in Conception Bay South and Holyrood, and town halls in Portugal Cove-St. Philip's, Torbay, Pouch Cove and Harbour Main.
What started in her basement seven years ago has grown.
“It went from 100, the next year was 200, last year it was 400,” Rideout said. “And yes, Christmas is special, but it’s every day of the year there’s a need.”
This increase in demand is something Andrew Holm, manager of fund development and partnerships at The Gathering Place, is seeing, too.
“Unfortunately the need continues to grow,” Holm said.
“Last week alone we had over 700 unique individuals in our space."
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