THUNDER BAY – There may be no snow on the ground, but the nights are getting colder. And unhoused individuals in the city are feeling the brunt of chilly fall weather.
Gear Up for Outdoors is once again asking the public to Spread the Warmth in their 18th annual winter coat and sleeping bag drive – to ensure those less fortunate stay warm this winter.
The campaign goes until Dec. 20 and supports Shelter House, Grace Place and Precious Bundles, who have all teamed up to provide winter clothing to the community's most systemically marginalized people.
Owner of Gear Up for Outdoors, Jon Wynn, told Newswatch, “the need is huge again this year.”
“The days are getting longer and colder, and especially with a lot of the situations that we have in the city. There are a lot of encampments and people who just don't have the ability to get jackets. So, (the campaign) fills a void there,” said Wynn.
“Especially in these colder mornings and colder evenings. We don't think about it because we're in a warm home in the evenings. But the demand is certainly there for sure.”
Over the last 18 years, the campaign has collected over 20,500 donated clothes which Brendan Carlin, executive director of Shelter House, said was a “very valuable and impactful” number.
“Things are getting more expensive all the time, including clothing, jackets, anything else that they might have to buy. So there are people that don't have some of those necessities beyond a place over their head and food in their stomach. During the winter Thunder Bay is very harsh and people need these coats to survive,” Carlin said.
People can make their donation at Gear Up for Outdoors' Central Avenue location at 894 Alloy Place. The entire process is contactless, so those donating just have to drop the clothing into the bin that is provided.
Wynn asks that the bags be labelled by gender and size so that they can make sure that children's clothing and adult clothing go to the right places.
“The fact that the community is coming together is a recognition of the need. It is quite inspiring and people should find that in itself is a community effort. Knowing that we may talk about global warming, but it isn't for someone who doesn't have a place to stay,” said Mayor Ken Boshcoff, who attended the launch.
“So, when we put these coats together and the toques and the mitts, it just makes life that much easier for people who don't have the comforts of their own home.”
