With freezing temperatures likely to stay until spring, except for the occasional Chinook, some people who cannot afford adequate winter clothing might find themselves struggling to stay warm.
For more than five years, Shelley Kohut has strived to ensure no one in the community must cope with being cold.
To that end, the local realtor and founder of Neighbours Helping Neighbours has kept going the Coats for the Cold program, which was originally started through the McDougal Chapel, she told the Round Up.
A rack of warm jackets and related apparel such as tuques and mittens was recently set up at the parking lot next to the Sundre IGA and the Main Avenue Liquor Store. Kohut expressed her gratitude for those businesses' continued support in allowing the winter garments to be placed at that location.
She asks anyone who would be interested in giving items to make sure they are in good, clean condition, and are of course warm as well. Contributions of warm coats, tuques, mittens, as well as winter boots are welcome, she said, adding women's winter jackets tend to run out first and seem to be harder to acquire in sufficient numbers.
However, residents should refrain from dropping off regular apparel such as T-shirts.
"We're not set up for that," she said, adding such articles of clothing could instead be delivered to the thrift store near the Sundre legion.
Throughout an average season, people who are in need pick up as many as 150-160 coats, she said.
"That's about the steady number."
Kohut attributes her inspiration and passion to continue the program as fulfilling a service to God, who she says has given her a heart to care for those who are less fortunate.
"I kind of see it as a ministry that I do for the Lord. We put a Bible in every coat. I believe that Bible is more important than the coat," she said.
"The coat helps the physical need, but the Bible helps the eternal need."
