A Pictou County company wants the community’s support to help children stay warm this winter.
For the second year in a row, Stones RV on Westville Road in Pictou County is collecting winter gear as part of the Coats for Kids campaign. The goal this year is to fill a 21-foot RV with winter apparel.
“The response we had last year was kind of overwhelming,” said Stones RV marketing coordinator Catherine Millen. “It was our first year doing it so we didn’t really know what we were getting into.”
They ended up filling up a small RV twice last year.
“Just to see the amount of people in the community that were willing to help was great,” she said.
Coats as well as hats, mittens, gloves and winter boots can be dropped off at Stones RV during their regular business hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday or from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.
People can also donate to Coats for Kids at the Sobeys head office in Stellarton, at the Department of Community Services building or at the Pictou County United Way.
While the focus is primarily on children, Millen said they are also collecting for adults.
The donations can be new or used, but in the past, have been primarily used in good condition.
“We just ask that there’s no rips and that zippers are working,” Millen said. “If it’s missing a button or two we can fix that.”
Clothing will be accepted until Nov. 2. This year’s distribution day will be Nov. 3 at New Glasgow Fire Hall from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Some volunteers from Stones will be on hand that day as well to help organize the distribution.
Millen said the distribution is totally anonymous and people don’t have to sign up ahead of time.
“The only thing we ask is that people only take one coat per family member so there’s enough for everyone,” she said.
As a small business owner, Jonathan Stone said it feels good to be able to give back in this way.
“It’s definitely helping people in Pictou County,” he said.
