Giving the gift of warmth

It's that time of year again: the windows are closed more often than open, the house fills with the dusty smell of furnaces that haven't been lit all summer, scarves are making a come-back and winter gear shifts to the front of the closet.

But for some families, those warm winter clothes are missing in action.

This is why the Share the Warmth winter clothes drive is so important to the community.

For four years, Share the Warmth has been making sure needy families have something warm to wrap around their shoulders when the winter season hits.

The Battlefords District Food and Resource Centre organizes the drive in partnership with the Living Sky and Light of Christ Catholic School Divisions and the Battlefords Boys and Girls Club.

"There's a great need in the community," said Bill Hall, BDFRC executive director. "A lot of kids from needy families don't have the proper clothing."

Although the drive officially starts Oct. 4, any winter coats or jackets still in serviceable condition can be dropped off at the food bank bins, located in Sobeys and Battlefords & District Co-op in North Battleford and Tim's Super A in Battleford, or from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, at the BDFRC office located at 1171 101 St.

Participating schools will also be taking winter clothing.

Last year, Share the Warmth collected approximately 200 coats. The community schools distributed children's coats and adult coats were handed out at the food bank.

Another upcoming initiative of the food bank is a food drive Oct. 12 to 15, held at schools from both divisions.

"The goal is to stuff a school bus," said Hall, explaining a bus would drive to each of the participating schools to collect the donated food.

The bus will be weighed before and after to determine the weight of food collected and this number will be divided by the total number of students at each school in order to determine how many pounds per student were donated.

The Meadow Lake food bank will be doing the same in a challenge of generosity.

Hall said the gauntlet was thrown for the first time last year and the Battlefords won "bragging rights."

"We beat Meadow Lake last year, but they feel they can beat us this year," said Hall.

Hall said the community really steps up to the plate to help those less fortunate, which is rewarding to see.

"Every time we do a food drive, I'm always amazed by the generosity of the community," he said.