Coat shortage could leave some in the cold
Posted 3 months ago
Kirsten Mundy
Standard Editor
When the cold weather strikes, it’s a little more unnerving for some families for whom buying a winter jacket is just outside their budget.
“You always have your regulars,” said Susan Gates with Wheatland Family and Community Support Services (WFCSS). “But this year we’re seeing a lot of new people. I think people are coming in earlier and there are more of them.”
Gates explained that in years past, they have generally had enough jackets to go around. Although most of those jackets are adult sized and those most in need are children, a jacket is a jacket when the snow falls. This year, however, the racks outside the WFCSS are bare, but many people still come in, hoping there is a jacket hiding somewhere.
“There are a lot of families coming in,” said Gates. “We’ve had a lot of people come in. The program runs from now until the end of January, and normally people are not looking for winter coats this early but because of the weather people are in earlier.”
She explained that normally by the time people come in looking for jackets, they have more than they can squeeze onto the racks. This year it’s the total opposite. Staff at WFCSS are starting to worry about what might happen to all the people in need if jackets don’t start coming in.
The program allows Wheatland County and Strathmore residents to drop off used, clean coats and winter gear for those in need. Those who are in need are able to drop by the building WFCSS shares with the Strathmore Library and pick out what they can. Gates said there is no criteria or quiz: if someone is in need they are able to have the helping hand of taking home a donation.
“We are just looking for things to keep people warm,” said Gates. “This year all kinds of people are in looking. We have a lot of single moms, elderly people, pretty much anybody. This year we have noticed a big difference.”
That difference is one Gates is hoping will turn around as the weather continues to get colder. Because the first cold snap was earlier than usual this year, she has her fingers crossed that people just haven’t had a chance to go through what they do and don’t need for the coming months.
Aside from donations, Gates said anyone willing to clean the jackets they do get in would be greatly appreciated. In the past there was an arrangement but the quantity of jackets made it too difficult to keep going. Now, it doesn’t look like there will be many to clean at all.
“There’s always a worry when you start a program like this,” said Gates. “But this year it’s like ‘Oh my goodness, we have no coats for anybody.’”
