With winter on its way, a coat drive is helping make sure everyone stays warm.
The seventh annual Out of the Cold coat drive to help Timmins-area children and families in need is underway.
Donations of gently used, clean winter apparel can be dropped off at Bella’s Boutique, 249 Third Ave., during business hours. Items will also be collected along the Santa Claus parade route prior to the start of the parade Nov. 18 at 6 p.m.
Suggestions for donations include coats, gloves, hats, scarves, blankets, winter boots and socks for adults and children.
This is the second year that Bella’s Boutique owner Holly Doyon is organizing the campaign.
Last year, when she started asking about how to become a drop-off location she ended up accepting the challenge of organizing the drive.
She said the response was overwhelming, with the storefront packed with donations for the open house to distribute the items.
“Even after the open house we got more (donations),” she said.
While some donations have already been dropped off, the drive is off to a slower start than the 2016 campaign.
“It would be nice to get somewhere near to last year because last year blew our mind,” she said.
There will be some changes to how the items are distributed this year.
Instead of an open house, Doyon said the winter gear will be given to organizations such as Yo Mobile, Timmins and Area Women in Crisis, Project Love and St. Vincent de Paul.
For more information on the coat drive, call Holly at 705-288-2352.
