Despite the heat wave southern Alberta has been experiencing, United Way of Lethbridge & South Western Alberta is turning its attention to what the winter months will bring. The 2017 Coats for Kids & Families collection will launch on Monday, September 18 and run until Friday, October 20. In addition to the United Way office, KPMG LLP and the three Lethbridge TD Canada Trust branches will once again be acting as additional donation sites.
Program coordinator Connolly Tate-Mitchell says it’s important to stay ahead of Mother Nature.
“It’s still 30 degrees out there and nobody is quite ready to think about snow and sub-zero temperatures yet, but it’s really important that we start this collection early so that people can be prepared before winter actually hits.”
Last year over 600 pieces of winter wear were donated at United Way, KPMG LLP and TD Canada Trust branches in Lethbridge and distributed to people through 10 organizations in the area.
“This year, we’re definitely hoping to see more child and youth sizes donated,” says Tate-Mitchell. “They’re always in high demand because children tend to outgrow things which need to be replaced each year.”
Items accepted in the collection include new and gently used men’s, women’s, youth and children’s coats, mittens and gloves, scarves, hats and toques and basic hoodies.
“Sometimes there are items donated that are a little too well-loved that we have to say goodbye to,” says Tate-Mitchell. “We’re asking for items that are in good shape that have a lot of life left in them. That shows that we are a community where people really care for one another, and that’s a great thing.”
Donations can be brought to the United Way office, KPMG LLP in the Lethbridge Centre Tower, or any of the three TD Canada Trust branches in Lethbridge. United Way is able to provide gift-in-kind tax receipts for new items with proof of purchase.
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