Salvation Army's 'Coats for Folks' campaign goes from Oct. 12-26 (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Chad Klassen

COATS FOR FOLKS

Salvation Army encouraging Kamloops residents to donate winter coats

Oct 13, 2021 | 3:51 PM

KAMLOOPS — With the weather getting a little chillier, the Salvation Army is starting to encourage Kamloops residents to dig through their closets and donate any coats they no longer use.

The non-profit has launched its campaign ‘Coats for Folks.’ From now until Oct. 26, people can drop off their gently-used coats at the Salvation Army on the North Shore or Thompson Cleaners in Sahali where they’ll be cleaned before they’re handed out to those in need.

“The coats come back to the Salvation Army and we size them all, we split them all up, and so we can figure out what we have,” noted Cpt. Kelly Fifield from the Kamloops Salvation Army located on Poplar St. “So when people come into us, we’re able to get a size for them, but we also work with other agencies in the city, places like Pit Stop and the Aboriginal Friendship Society, places that are also servicing people in need.”

Owner of Thompson Cleaners Alex Zalmai is no stranger to helping the community. He says he enjoys lending a hand to those in need.

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“I do not miss any opportunity to go out and help people, and I’m grateful the Salvation Army came up with this opportunity. I took it and I’m enjoying it,” said Zalmai.

Last year, the Salvation Army handed out close to 400 coats. Fifield says with the temperatures dropping in the last week, some of the homeless have already been requesting a jacket.

“Having a winter coat is a basic necessity. It’s not a luxury item,” she said. “However, the cost of winter coats are expensive, especially when you don’t have a lot of extra income. It’s hard to just go to the store and drop an easy $100, $200 on a winter coat, but lots of people, they switch out their winter coats and they still have a lot of life in them. We want to take advantage of that life and those jackets and be able to give it to those that need it.”