The warmth of a jacket goes a long way and thanks to the Salvation Army Coat Drive many Calgarians in need will be a lot warmer this winter.
Over 1,200 jackets were donated last week at the Calgary Stampeders regular-season finale for the fourth annual event and star player Jeremaine Copeland was at the Salvation Army yesterday helping recipients pick out a coat for the winter.
“The need for jackets was higher this year and our fans responded. It’s great to see and I love being part of such a great charity,” Copeland said.
Salvation Army client Andrew Gelder said he is overwhelmed by the generosity of Calgarians having just come from Vancouver.
“I think it’s very generous of Calgarians who are better off helping people who aren’t as well off. It’s really a great program and very nice to see,” he said.
Salvation Army spokesperson Sigrid Mahr said the drive is for homeless Calgarians or those who have a job but can’t quite afford to buy new jackets.
“It’s great to know Calgarians care and it’s nice that so many people stepped up this year,” she added.
