Saskatoon organizations keeping city’s most vulnerable warm in cold weather

As the cold temperatures in Saskatchewan look to continue for the foreseeable future, many folks will be bundling up with an extra layer.

But some of Saskatoon’s most vulnerable won’t have that luxury.

That’s why the Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD), along with the Saskatoon Indian and Métis Friendship Centre (SIMFC), Prairie Harm Reduction, Sage Clan, St. Mary’s and the Salvation Army, is holding a clothing drive until Feb. 14.

Each organization is looking for different clothing and winter items.

Michelle King, Executive Director of SIMFC, outlined what items they would be looking for.

“We are looking for hand warmers — they’re called Little Hotties, mitts, toques and any ski pants,” said King. “Also sweat suits, sweat pants, sweatshirts, long sleeve shirts, underwear and socks for both men and women.”

She said the Friendship Centre has seen on countless occasions people who need clothing that don’t have it.

“Every single day, we have dozens of people that come (in),” said King. “There are some sad situations of people sometimes even having their winter clothing items taken from them.”

Sometimes there are people who are wearing wet or soiled clothing.

SFD is collecting socks, large mitts, boots, warm clothes, hand warmers, blankets, sleeping bags, and neck warmers; Prairie Harm Reduction is collecting socks; Sage Clan is collecting socks, large mitts, blankets or sleeping bags, neck warmers or balaclavas, long underwear in sizes M-XXL; and St. Mary’s and Salvation Army are collecting mitts.

King said as Saskatchewan continues to battle out this winter, any little bit helps.

“There’s a lot of people who have items that they no longer need or want,” she said. “It’s a great time to clean out your closets and your drawers and get rid of some of that warm winter clothing that may not fit.”

SIMFC was able to partner with SFD through the Cold Weather Strategy program the two are involved in.

“There’s a group of … stakeholders that meet every Thursday that either have a warm-up space or outreach,” explained King. “That’s just an initiative across the city of organizations that work together to keep our most vulnerable people, our unhoused relatives, safe and warm.”

People looking to donate to SIMFC can do so by dropping items off at 168 Wall Street between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

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