100 Mile House's Coats for All program is consolidating its distribution system this year.
This year rather than giving out coats at several different locations throughout the month of November, long-time volunteer Gayle Dunsmuir said they have secured the use of St. Timothy's Anglican Church's basement for the entire month. That means every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday throughout the month of November, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., community members in need will be able to pick up warm winter coats, toques, mitts and scarves from St. Timothy's.
"It's a considerable change that will be good for the people who are sponsoring it and the people in the community who need coats. We have been privileged to get St. Tim's basement for the whole month of November," Dunsmuir said. "Instead of hauling coats to seven different places around the community, all the coats will be at St. Tim's basement the whole time."
While this will put less of a strain on Dunsmuir and the other volunteers, who are mostly seniors, it will also be beneficial for the families needing to access the coats. Every week she said there would be new coats, mitts and scarves to choose from and they will have access to the full inventory, rather than just a selection they would take to places like the Cariboo Family Enrichment Centre. She noted, however, they will still be sending coats to their regular distribution places in outlying communities like Canim Lake and Canoe Creek.
As in previous years, Coats for All officially kicks off on Friday, Nov. 1 with members of the community invited to donate old winter clothing, in good condition, to the cause. Clothes can be dropped off at the 100 Mile Laundromat at 460 Birch Avenue so they can be washed. Dunsmuir said donations will only be accepted from Nov. 1 to Nov. 30.
Dunsmuir noted that Coats for All is a collaboration between volunteers from St. Timothy's Anglican Church and 100 Mile United Church and has been running now for decades. She is hopeful people in 100 Mile House will once again support them with plenty of donations.
"Any warm, winter out-clothing is really appreciated and needed. For those who are fortunate enough to share their coats with others, they need to be dropped off at the laundromat. If you are able to wash the coats, mitts or scarves, clearly mark your bag as washed so then they won't be washed again," Dunsmuir said."There's always a demand for coats but also mitts, warm socks, toques, all those things that people need in the Cariboo to be comfortable in the winter."
Anyone with further questions is invited to reach out to Coats for All chairperson Annie McKave at 250-395-6054.
