Organizers said the community’s response to the first annual “Coats for Kids” drive was overwhelming.
Miranda Hale said residents provided quite a few donations during the drive, which was held Nov. 5 at the Innisfail Baptist Church.
“During the following week we received quite a few more,” Hale said, including bags of coats donated by Johns Manville. A number of parents from the Innisfail Community Preschool, which Hale owns, also donated items.
“Most items that we did receive were brand new, or in great shape.”
Drive organizers had been asking for numerous items, including winter coats, winter gloves, tuques, boy’s jeans, blankets, snow pants and winter boots.
“We received more than I had expected to,” Hale explained.
Hale said all the donated items were brought to École John Wilson Elementary School following the drive, adding that one of the school’s employees works for a local foundation for families in need.
“She said if they don’t use them at the school, they’ll definitely be able to disperse them in town,” said Hale. “All the donations will stay locally.”
Anyone still wishing to donate can contact Hale at 403-396-5166 or via the preschool’s website, www.innisfailcommunitypreschool.com.
“If people are still wanting to make donations, we won’t turn them away,” Hale said, adding that the drive will be an annual event. “I was overwhelmed by the support that we got.”
