'Winter Wear' for Families
Date: 12/2/2009
Hancock and Washington Counties - It is concerning to know that we have friends and neighbors in our communities that are cold. They do not have adequate winter gear to stay warm. As concerning, til recently, there hasn't been many resources in our area to help them with this problem.
"Winter Wear" is a small group of concerned citizens that have come together to organize a plan serving Hancock and Washington Counties, providing warm items for all families who need them.
Many organizations and local businesses have offered to assist by providing local drop off boxes for this coat drive, and has offered support for distribution as well.
Our organizers, Shellie Bouchard; Child and Family Opportunities, Susan Farley; WHCA, Meredith Shelton; Hancock Grammar School, Marilyn Nickson: Sea Coast Mission have formed plans for collection, cleaning and distribution throughout both counties.
We are now just waiting for the donations of "like new" coats, snowpants, hat/mittens to come our way, so they can go back out to our communities as soon as possible. We are gratefully accepting donations of laundry detergent as well, so volunteers can wash coats before they are given away.
We are asking our community for help. If you would ask yourself: Do I have any extra coats in the closet that are not being used? Do I actually "need" 3-4 coats? Could I spare one 1 or 2? Have my children grown out of these? OR Do members in my family need winter coats?
To Donate:
Hancock County has drop boxes in these locations:
Ray Plumbing -and distribution site
Storage Plus
Trenton Market Place
H.O.M.E. Co-Op -and distribution
Sumner Adult Ed. -and distribution
East Brook Baptist Church
Ellsworth City Hall
Ellsworth Hospital -Staff Drop off
Child and Family Opportunities- Client only drop/distribution Super Shoes Hancock
County Tech. Center MDI High School
Washington County has drop boxes in these locations:
Second Baptist Church, Calais
Shop n Save, Calais
Calais Police Dept.
Calais Regional Hospital-staff drop box
Center Street Church, Machias -and distribution Milbridge Union Trust Whiting Food
Pantry- and distribution Carreer Center Down East-and distribution WCCC WCCA Sea Coast Mission, Cherryfield
There will be distribution days scheduled (to be announced) after the final collection of coats, within the next few weeks. Anyone who needs a coat or other items are welcome to come.
This is our first year for Winter Wear, and we hope to not leave anyone out in the cold unprepared. Next year we hope to get more awareness out there to our community and maybe challenge some more local business's to be involved with this great opportunity to help one another.
Thank you, If you have any further questions or need more information, please do not hesitate to call or e-mail. Thanks again. Shellie Bouchard, w667-2995 x:244, h565-8907, shellieb@childandfamilyopp.com