The annual Cool Aid Society coat drive is in serious need of a boost.
Entering its 13th year, the event has brought in hundreds of coats, jackets, and winter gear that were given out to people living outdoors.
However, this year the contributions have nowhere near as were much as previous years, leaving the society with a critical shortage of men’s coats and jackets.
Wendy Stone, a representative with the Cool Aid Society, says the organization is encouraging men to go through their wardrobes and look for items they can part with.
“We’d like to encourage the men out there to go through their wardrobes and see what they can part with,” said Stone.
“A lot of our clients and people in our community who can’t afford warm winter gear where they can pick up some free winter jackets and coats so that they can be prepared for the cold weather.”
With COVID-19 forcing homeless shelters to run at half capacity, nearly 200 people are currently living in city parks in the heart of winter.
“People are going to be really cold and there’s no real housing out there yet,” said Todd Nesbitt, a Cool Aid resident.
Nesbitt has been on the receiving end of several jackets over the years.
“It makes you feel wonderful that people actually care out there and like I said the city of Victoria always been generous,” he said.
Cool Aid says they need about 200 men’s coats and jackets, sizes medium, large, X-L and XX-L, which will be distributed by the society and other agencies in an effort to ensure that everyone in need gets a coat.
Gently used and new men’s coats and jackets can be dropped off by Feb. 5 at Cool Aid’s Rock Bay Landing shelter, 535 Ellice Street.
Ben Nesbit
