Winter clothing drive deemed a great success in Kincardine

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If anyone doubts that our community is wonderfully generous and caring, that person should have been at Knox church on Thursday (Oct. 23) evening and on Friday (Oct. 24).

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There was an amazing amount of children’s coats and snowpants. There were enough hats, mitts, gloves, scarves, wraps, boots, shoes, sweaters, and hoodies to outfit an army, and our volunteers were more than happy to see the clothing marching out of the door.

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One of our volunteers counted 122 warm winter coats but decided that the rest of the gear was too numerous to spend time numbering — her energy was better spent helping our clients find what they needed.

Much as we appreciate statistics, we didn’t count our customers. To do that would have meant a longer wait for those in the queue. We concentrated on sending everyone out with what they needed in as short a time as possible.

Judging by their appreciative words and their beaming smiles, we had more than a little success in that regard.

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At the end of the session, all the kids’ apparel was bagged to go to the Clothes Hamper so that it is still available to our community. A dozen and a half warm and colourful coats of varying sizes are hung up at Knox in case of need, and more are stored where they can replenish that stock as it dwindles.

Underneath those 18 jackets are the boots which didn’t find new feet to protect, ready for when the snow flies and shoes don’t suffice. Sweaters, hoodies and dressier coats — gosh, some of our neighbours have excellent taste in clothes — are being trekked up to the United Way Bruce Grey to be shared with the wider community.

There are so many accessories (hats, mitts/gloves, scarves/wraps) remaining that it would be a crime not to get them out to be used. We will have some available at Knox, but the church isn’t open all day, every day.

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It would be wonderful if there were local businesses and/or organizations which do function daily that would agree to hold a stock of accessories which could be freely given out whenever needed — places like the library and the legion, for example. Please contact Knox if your organization would like to host some of these accessories.

Finally, mega thanks to Little Beginnings Daycare & Learning Centre and West Shore Clothing & Surf Shoppe for accepting clothing donations for our community. This clothing drive would not work without your kindness.

Thanks to April at the Saltbox Shoppe who was the instigator of this project and thanks to every person who donated clothing. Thanks also to Knox for providing the site for the distribution and its volunteers for their time and energy. When we all work together, we really can achieve wonderful things.

Submitted by Wendy Cox

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