As social service organizations gear up for the holiday season, a number of clothing drives are happening across Thunder Bay, Ont., to help people keep safe and warm this winter.
There's the annual Spread the Warmth winter coat drive held by Gear Up For Outdoors Ltd., which benefits clients at Shelter House, Grace Place and Precious Bundles.
Then there's the UNDERCOVER Project, run by Community Clothing Assistance, which provides vouchers for families to get free socks and underwear for children ages four through 14.
Meanwhile, a number of other places offer free or low-cost clothing year-round, from the Catholic Action Centre to The Gathering Place.
"It keeps people safe on the streets. It keeps them from freezing to death. All the service agencies, providers, we all work together to make sure that no one's left out in the cold," said Melody Macsemchuk, operations manager and co-founder of Grace Place, during the launch of the annual winter coat drive.
Grace Place also offers a free clothing store at its location on Simpson Street, where it provides free meals and an overnight out-of-the-cold program that's seen additional beds added to meet rising needs.
Last month, Food Banks Canada gave Ontario a D- on its Poverty Report Card for issues of food insecurity, housing costs and social assistance levels. The poor grade comes as organizations across the country are struggling with increased demands due to a cost of living crisis that just won't let up.
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