THUNDER BAY - With temperatures steadily dropping and winter just around the corner, a group of teachers continue to work at ensuring everyone stays warm this season.
The annual Coats for Kids program opened on Saturday at Victoriaville Mall, providing people in the community an opportunity to find proper winter clothing for themselves and their family.
“I think it’s important to always be agents of change and to be committed to working with the community and the marginalized, those who are less fortunate than we are,” said Solange Cote, a teacher with the Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board and an organizer of Coats for Kids.
“I find this Coats for Kids program is a positive thing we can do as teachers and just as human beings taking care of each other.”
Coats for Kids is organized by volunteers with the Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board, the Catholic Women’s League, and Iron Range Bus Lines.
“Coats for kids started 13 years ago,” Cote said. “It’s an initiative where we encourage schools to collect coats. Children coats, adult coats, mitts, hats, whatever they need.”
For one month, schools across the Catholic Board collected and donated coats for the annual drive and were collected by Iron Range Bus Lines and washed before being handed out.
“We had a really good turnout this year,” Cote said. “I would say well over 1,000 coats. We have a section for children and a section for adults.”
Cote added what makes this clothing drive special is that the volunteers get to meet and interact with the people receiving the coats.
“What I like about it is when they come, we really take the time to work one on one with the individuals,” she said. “We introduce ourselves and create a relationship with the person.”
“It’s always really good,” Cote continued. “It’s never been a bad experience. It’s always very positive. What they like is we get to have a chat with them.”
Clothing will be distributed from Nov. 18 to 20 at Victoriaville Mall from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturday Nov. 23 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
