Coat Drive Provides Coats to Vulnerable Calgarians
The 12th annual Share the Warmth Coat Drive wrapped up last week with nearly 5,000 coats being collected for Calgary’s less fortunate! The Jeff and Sarah Show on Q107 encouraged Calgarians to give, which helped donations grow from 423 coats in 2012, to nearly 5,000 coats this year. The Calgary Stampeders invited fans to bring coats to the last home season game and also continued their challenge to local schools which received an outstanding response. From 2 schools last year, to 19 schools this year, students demonstrated their diligence to helping their community. There were 3,100 coats collected from the beginning of September to the end of October, making up nearly 70% of total donations. The winning school, Our Lady of Peace Elementary and Junior High, brought in 740 coats and will receive an exclusive locker room tour and a team-signed jersey.
Due to the coat drive’s success, The Salvation Army was able expand their distribution from just homeless men at the Centre of Hope to include families who are struggling to make ends meet. The first distribution was on Monday November 10th at The Salvation Army’s Centre of Hope downtown shelter. Staff were joined by Calgary Stampeder team representative and quarterback, Drew Tate, along with teammate and defensive back, Brandon Smith. The second distribution was later in the week on November 13th at The Barbara Mitchell Family Resource Centre. Doors were opened to families, many of whom are newcomers to the country, to look through and choose a warm jacket among racks of coats in the warehouse.
Thank you again to our partners, and to all the generous donors for helping us to provide Calgarians with warm coats.
