North Bay charitable groups collect winter coats for vulnerable people
Several charitable organizations in North Bay are teaming up for a community-wide coat drive to make sure the vulnerable will stay warm this winter.
Thursday afternoon, the staff at Low Income People Involvement of Nipissing (LIPI) were busy sorting through the latest bundle of winter clothes donations.
Several charitable organizations in North Bay are teaming up for a community-wide coat drive to make sure the vulnerable will stay warm this winter. (Eric Taschner/CTV News)
"We're probably getting close to, you know, 300-400 coats," said Amanda Smith, LIPI’s program director.
LIPI is teaming up with the AIDS Committee of North Bay & Area, St. Andrew’s United Church Loaves and Fishes Community Food Bank and Rebuilt Resources to collect as many gently used coats as possible.
"It makes us feel good," Smith said.
"It's, you know, giving back to the community is a huge part of what we do … We take a lot of pride in that."
The charities are asking people to sort through their closets for any gently used coats, toques, winter boots, mittens, scarves and other winter apparel.
The yearly coat drive began more 25 years ago and was known as Operation Winter Warmth. It was organized by Vanda Brazeau’s mother, Maureen. At one time, organizers collected as many as 2,000 winter coats in a single year.
"We put out a call to our community year after year and they step up," said Brazeau, the operations manager of Rebuilt Resources.
"No one should have to do this by themselves."
'Life is expensive'
The organizations have one simple request: the coats should be in good condition -- no rips or holes in them and all the buttons and zippers work.
"Life is expensive and it's only getting more expensive," Smith said.
"If we can help out even a little bit and just get people winter gear to be warm, kids especially, that's our goal."
Coat donations can be made at the LIPI office at 127 Main St. East from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. until Friday. They can also be dropped off at Rebuilt Resources at 1356 Regina St. from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. until Saturday.
- Download the CTV News app now
- Get local breaking news alerts
- Daily newsletter with the top local stories emailed to your inbox
The coat distribution will take place at St. Andrews United Church at 399 Cassells St. on Nov. 6 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Nov. 7 from 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
"Everyone should have a winter coat and a hat to stay warm this winter," Brazeau said.
Officials said each family member must be present to collect their winter coat and only one coat per person will be provided.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Donald Trump picks former U.S. congressman Pete Hoekstra as ambassador to Canada
U.S. president-elect Donald Trump has nominated former diplomat and U.S. congressman Pete Hoekstra to be the American ambassador to Canada.
Genetic evidence backs up COVID-19 origin theory that pandemic started in seafood market
A group of researchers say they have more evidence to suggest the COVID-19 pandemic started in a Chinese seafood market where it spread from infected animals to humans. The evidence is laid out in a recent study published in Cell, a scientific journal, nearly five years after the first known COVID-19 outbreak.
This is how much money you need to make to buy a house in Canada's largest cities
The average salary needed to buy a home keeps inching down in cities across Canada, according to the latest data.
'My two daughters were sleeping': London Ont. family in shock after their home riddled with gunfire
A London father and son they’re shocked and confused after their home was riddled with bullets while young children were sleeping inside.
Smuggler arrested with 300 tarantulas strapped to his body
Police in Peru have arrested a man caught trying to leave the country with 320 tarantulas, 110 centipedes and nine bullet ants strapped to his body.
Boissonnault out of cabinet to 'focus on clearing the allegations,' Trudeau announces
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced embattled minister Randy Boissonnault is out of cabinet.
Baby dies after being reported missing in midtown Toronto: police
A four-month-old baby is dead after what Toronto police are calling a “suspicious incident” at a Toronto Community Housing building in the city’s midtown area on Wednesday afternoon.
Sask. woman who refused to provide breath sample did not break the law, court finds
A Saskatchewan woman who refused to provide a breath sample after being stopped by police in Regina did not break the law – as the officer's request was deemed not lawful given the circumstances.
Parole board reverses decision and will allow families of Paul Bernardo's victims to attend upcoming parole hearing in person
The families of the victims of Paul Bernardo will be allowed to attend the serial killer’s upcoming parole hearing in person, the Parole Board of Canada (PBC) says.