This is the true story of 7,000 kg of winter coats, ski pants, boots and gloves. Much needed winter clothing.
According to Environment Canada, Winnipeg is the coldest major city in Canada. It can reach 40 below with bone chilling winds. Might be that Manitobans know cold better than most of us and they know that winter is even harder for disadvantaged kids.
While some families have closets full of outgrown and disguarded coats, scarves, boots, mitts and hats, others in the city don’t have even the basics and dread the approach of colder weather.
Locals working in the field suggest that children from the city’s lower income households risk frostbite and other exposure when they head off to school without the suitable winter attire for cold weather. And, not only will they be more likely to stay inside and become isolated but these kids have been shown to incur more health and other social problems than other children.
When they are unable to walk and play comfortably outside, research shows that kids miss making “all” important social connections, sports activities and general day-to-day active playtime. Plus, even when clothes are provided youngsters will often not wear them as they run the risk of being stigmatized and embarrassed by the fact that they’re wearing donated coats and boots, according to the United Way Koats for Kids organizers. The not-for-profit collected over 6,000 coats from September – January of last year weighing over 7,000 kgs and managed to discreetly delivered them to children and teens in need.
Sadly Winnipeg’s kids are not the only ones in need, it turns out with hundreds of community charities from coast to coast running similar campaigns.
So here’s my ask. Dig deep, into your closets, trunks and attics. Find a place in your community where you can drop off a coat of two. And add a can or two of soup while you’re at it. After all, no child should go hungry and every kid deserves a coat.
Caroline Tapp-McDougall
Publisher/Editor
caroline@bcsgroup.com
