Helping people stay warm this winter

Posted on: jamacsadmin

Shannon LeClair
Times Reporter
 
Winter is quickly approaching, which means it is time to once again pull out, or buy, winter outdoor gear such as coats, toques and mitts. Unfortunately some people may not have winter clothes or the money to purchase them. 
That’s where Wheatland Family and Community Support Services, FCSS, comes in. In 2003 FCSS took over the Community Coats project. 
“We took it over because if we hadn’t taken it over at the time, it would have been gone,” said Susan Gates with Wheatland FCSS.
“The agency that was doing it couldn’t do it any longer because of space…we just happened to be lucky that we work with other groups like Christmas hamper (society) and they have a storage place. We could store our racks and things with them.”
From October until the end of January FCSS accepts donations of anything to do with winter outdoor wear. They collect items like gently used winter coats, hats, boots, mitts, and scarves for adults and children. 
“We have it out in the foyer of the building so it’s accessible Monday to Saturday,” said Gates. 
People can drop their gently used items off in the respective spot in the foyer, hanging up the coats. Or those who are in need of winter outdoor items can rummage through what’s available to find something for themselves. 
The items used to be in the boardroom in the FCSS section of the building but board meetings had the items closed off from people for short periods of time.
“This I think works a little better for some people, because I think they’re uncomfortable with the fact that they have to do that in the first place. So when it’s out there nobody is watching over their shoulder,” said Gates. 
“We do literally go through hundreds of coats. Some years are better than others, some years the need is greater than the supply and demand.”
Any items that are left at the end of January are bagged up and donated to the Canadian Diabetes Association in Calgary, and the Calgary Cerebral Palsy Association. Anyone interested in donating, or in need of warm outdoor clothing, can go to 85 Lakeside Blvd between 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays, or on Saturdays. You can also contact Susan Gates at 403-934-5335 or sgates@wfcss.org