June Campbell sorts clothes during Operation Warmth at Redeemer Lutheran Church Wednesday.
With the pounding noise of Ferguson Street reconstruction in the background Wednesday morning, June Campbell and Maria Moore did their part of help those in need stay warm.
They are volunteers with Redeemer Lutheran Chuch's "Operation Warmth", which has been running for about 20 years.
Campbell has been there from the start, sorting clothes, especially coats, hanging them up, and making sure they’re given to those who need them.
“It does make you feel good to know that you’re helping people that really need it. Definitely worth it. And It’s needed, very much needed"
For Moore, the sorting of hundreds of coats and other clothes, boots, books and even toys, is a chance to give back.
"I am part of this church, and the pastor works really hard to put this on, and I’m happy to help him and give back to the community in that way."
During the years that Operation Warmth has operated, literally thousands of coats have been handed out, as many as two thousand a year.
This year is expected to be no different, although Pastor Jerry Slote says business has been a little bit slow in this, the first week of the Operation Warmth giveaways.
"I don’t know if it’s the construction or not, but it seems they’re having a hard time finding their way in here. We got lots of donations, but it’s getting the people in. Maybe the first snow will bring them in. It usually does it."
Almost all donations come from around the community, and they are tidied up, sorted and then handed out during November.
Slote says it’s what communities do.
"The people that are here are just our neighbours, so it’s neighbours helping neighbours. Neighbours help by donating all the goods and now we help our other neighbours by handing them out to those who need them."
Operation Warmth is open six mornings a week, 6:30 p.m. until 8 Monday to Thursday through November.
Leftover clothes will be sent around to other areas of the community that need it, or even other communities.
Redeemer Lutheran will be accepting donations as well, for at least another couple of weeks.
