THUNDER BAY — Gear Up for Outdoors is celebrating a great success in this year's winter coat drive.
The 16th annual Spread the Warmth Winter Coat Drive saw over 1,260 items donated.
Gear Up for Outdoors president Jon Wynn said that this year's success can be attributed to Thunder Bay’s caring heart.
“It always just surprises me as well as pinch me moments there that you think that everybody has donated all the jackets they have in their closets there,” he said.
“But every year our customers and staff friends step up and, it's as the old adage goes, they were a city of the giant heart there that keeps giving, whether it's for coats or funding for anything else there, the city really does a really great job [with] supporting this community.”
Wynn said that the yearly coat drive is an important event, especially here in the north as temperatures drop over the winter.
“It's a privilege that we all wear a jacket, but there's a lot of people that don't and especially this fall, [it] wasn't too bad,” he said.
“And, all of the sudden, the cold and the snow and the weather that we're used to finally set upon us, and the need is just so severe right now.”
Wynn said that he would like to thank the Alstom Women of Excellence for their contribution of over 250 Jackets collected and donated on the last day of this year’s campaign.
“[They’re] all earmarked for precious bundles and the Shelter House and Grace Place,” he said. “It was a really fitting way to end the campaign there.”
Even though the drive is over, those who wish to help out still have a chance to as Gear Up for Outdoors is still accepting jackets over the next few weeks and will drop them off on your behalf.
For more information, visit their website.
