Tupper Lake Public Library Director Courtney Carey, left, and Family Matters Tupper Lake Resource Center Coordinator Beth Cassell smile outside of the Tupper Lake Public Library on Oct. 3 next to a winter clothing donation bin. Cassell is organizing the Tupper Lake Winter Coat Drive, which she started last year. (Enterprise photo — Chris Gaige)
TUPPER LAKE — Two Tri-Lakes communities are gearing up for winter by doing all they can to make sure locals get the proper clothes and outerwear.
Organizers in Tupper Lake and Lake Placid, who say these events have made a huge local impact in the past, are asking people to donate any gently used winter gear that they no longer wear, and may still have kicking around in their closets. They hope to see their communities’ spirits of generosity continue once again this year.
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Tupper Lake
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Family Matters Tupper Lake and Tupper Lake Public Library have partnered with each other again to run a winter clothing drive for children in the community.
Donations can be dropped off at either Family Matters, at 40 Marion St., or the Tupper Lake Public Library, at 41 Lake St., during each institution’s operating hours throughout the month of October.
Examples of acceptable donations include coats, fleeces, gloves, hats, scarves, mittens, snow pants, boots and any other articles of outerwear people use in the winter.
Family Matters is a resource center for families, providing help to strengthen families and establishing social connections between local children and their parents through a variety of events open to the community.
The center provides playgroups for children, support groups for families and parenting education classes, according to Beth Cassell, who serves as the center coordinator for Family Matters. Cassell began the winter clothes drive last year after she had been mulling over the idea for some time.
“It was something I had been thinking about, and last year I just decided to go for it,” she said.
Cassell, a lifelong Tupper Lake resident, said that she was humbled by how many people donated then.
“We ended up with about 10 tables full of winter clothing. We were able to outfit 68 children and 46 adults, all from our community,” she said.
Cassell said people were “incredibly” appreciative of what they received last year.
“We had a mom come in carrying her little girl, who must’ve been about 3 or 4 years old. She came in with nothing, and that child left completely outfitted. She had boots. She had snow pants. She had everything she needed for the winter months.
Cassell said that from Nov. 7 to 14, people can come to 40 Marion St. to pick up what they need. She said pickup is open to anyone, and that organizers don’t ask questions on people’s incomes. Cassell noted that while Tupper Lake has a large underserved population, she understands that holiday costs, heating bills and inflation from the past few years can strain middle-class families as well during the late fall and early winter months.
“It’s open to everybody. … Between all those costs, it can be really hard this time of year even for middle-class families and anywhere you can save a bit of money; it’s a good thing,” she said. “Not only are clothes (and outerwear) expensive, but kids are always outgrowing what they can wear. That’s tough on families, especially if they have several children.”
Rather than having to buy everything new all over again each year, Cassell encouraged families to drop off any clothes or outerwear that no longer fits, and then come by and pick up different-sized gear for this year. Cassell said the drive’s benefits go beyond the wallet.
“It’s great for the environment, too. You’re recycling, you’re re-using, you’re cutting down on fashion industry waste,” she said.
Cassell said that she was still finalizing times for clothing and outerwear distribution from Nov. 7 to 14. She said that the Tupper Lake Public Library’s website’s events page, as well as its Facebook page, would be updated with the latest information when that is determined, as well as the Family Matters Facebook page. Those can be found below.
– Library events website: tinyurl.com/3smea4sx
– Library Facebook: tinyurl.com/4rt93erf
– Family Matters Tupper Lake Facebook: tinyurl.com/37kx7wa4
If people have questions about donating and/or distribution, Cassell said they can reach out on those Facebook pages, email her at [email protected] or call her office at 518-359-8167.
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Lake Placid
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The annual Lake Placid winter outerwear collection is currently underway.
The effort is being co-chaired by Tara Wright and Zach Clark. Wright has volunteered with the annual drive for the past seven years.
Acceptable donations include coats, fleeces, gloves, hats, scarves, mittens snow pants, boots and any other articles of outerwear people use in the winter. Wright also said monetary donations are accepted as part of the drive, which the Adirondack Community Church uses to purchase additional articles of outerwear that are given out.
Wright said that monetary donations can be made as a check to the Adirondack Community Church. She said to note “2024 winter outerwear drive” on the memo line, and the church will designate the money to the winter outerwear drive. Wright said donations to the outerwear drive are tax deductible.
The outerwear does not need to be new. Gently used items are accepted. Donations should be in clean condition and free of any significant rips or tears. All shapes and sizes are accepted, and donations are given to people of any age.
Wright said coats of all sizes, children’s snow pants, and children’s boots are the most in-demand items each year.
There are several donation bins around the community. The sites and their addresses are listed below.
– Adirondack Community Church, 2583 Main St.
– St. Agnes Church, 169 Hillcrest Ave.
– St. Agnes School, 2322 Saranac Ave
– Lake Placid Elementary, 318 Old Military Road
– Lake Placid Middle/High School, 34 School St.
– Northwood School, 92 Northwood Road
– Lake Placid Health Center, 203 Old Military Road
Donations will be accepted at all locations through Monday, Oct. 28.
“This is a way for people in our community to give back to their community. You can clean out your closet while helping others,” she said.
In addition to everyone who has given in the past, Wright thanked the Adirondack Sports Council and BlackRock FC (soccer club) for two large donations this year, as well as Northwood School’s CARE Club for helping to pick up and sort donations.
On Nov. 1 from 5 to 7 p.m. and Nov. 2 from 9 to 11 a.m., donations will be handed out at the Adirondack Community Church. Wright said no questions are asked of people’s reasons for picking up outerwear.
“We don’t check income status. Anyone can come and pick up, even if it doesn’t have to do with income and it’s just for environmental or sustainability reasons. All are welcome,” Wright said.
She said that one of her favorite parts of the event are people who come back each year, re-donate outerwear their children have used the past year, and pick-up a different donation in the next size up.
“It’s this constant circle of life for these coats. I love to see it,” Wright said.
Anyone with questions can call the Adirondack Community Church at 518-523-3753 or email them at [email protected].
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