While many people enjoy the snow so they can engage in winter activities, it's a fairly safe bet to say no one particularly relishes frolicking about outdoors during a deep freeze.
Braving cold snaps the likes of which the area recently experienced is challenging enough even with proper clothing. But without several warm layers including a winter coat, combating the cold can be outright daunting.
So when Shelley Kohut was attending a Bible study at her church about five years ago that challenged several groups to consider ways to put actions to words in regards to giving back to the community, the idea to provide people in need with warm jackets during the winter arose. The resulting brainstorm led to the creation of Coats for the Cold, she said.
“Each group had to come up with an idea — this is what our group came up with,” she said, adding that the initiative has run annually since.
“This is our fifth year.”
Volunteers place a Bible in each coat's pocket, as well as an invitation to drop by the Plus 1 emergency food hamper service, located just west of Sundre at the McDougal Chapel, she said, adding the book provides “food for the soul” while the hamper service offers “food for the tummy.”
Although the coats are for the most part hung on a set of racks at the Main Avenue parking lot next to the grocery store in front of the liquor store, organizers temporarily relocate the racks to the Sundre Santas workshop adjacent to the Sundre Fire Department's hall throughout that initiative's duration. However, with Sundre Santas now wrapped up for the year, the Coats for the Cold racks will return before the new year to their usual location at the parking lot, she said.
Every year when she asks the businesses' owners permission to set up, “they say ‘yes' without hesitating. They're always so good to let us have that space — we couldn't do it without them.”
Last year, organizers made available throughout the season 160 coats that over time were all taken. But since some donors drop off coats directly on the racks, that number is likely higher, she said.
“We only know about the ones that come through here,” she said, referring to her Main Avenue office between Second and Third streets North, which is also home to Neighbours Helping Neighbours.
During the recent cold snap that saw temperatures drop below -30 C with the wind chill factor, Coats for the Cold actually ran out of jackets. So organizers appealed to the community and eventually managed to restock the racks, she said, adding they were doing well as of last week.
“It serves a great purpose,” she said.
“To me, it complements our Neighbours Helping Neighbours program.”
Coats for the Cold will — depending on the weather and availability of winter jackets — continue well into the new year, she said.
While anyone who is so inclined is welcome to drop coats directly on the racks, she encourages residents who want to give a jacket to do so by coming into Neighbours Helping Neighbours. Since space on the racks is limited, anyone donating is asked only to offer warm jackets, she said.
“Let's keep the focus on coats.”
