Merry Christmas!
We hope you’ve had a great morning around the tree, opening gifts and sharing a meal with your loved ones, which we hope is a fairly small group of quarantine buddies.
Today is all about celebrating what we have and giving to others, and so we thought it was an appropriate time to suggest giving back to your community. Especially because winter has just officially begun.
You see, many people in our community aren’t able to afford coats, gloves, toboggans and other cold-weather gear. Imagine walking outside in the dead of winter without any of these items. It’s not comfortable or safe, but the problem is more widespread than you might think. Many families in our community are struggling to afford basic necessities, and winter wear can be pretty expensive.
That’s why, each year, the United Way of Monongalia and Preston Counties runs the Warm Hands, Warm Hearts Outerwear Drive.
Collection bins are placed at various locations around town, and we ask that people drop off their new or gently worn children’s and adults’ winter hats, scarves, mittens, gloves, boots and coats. Those donations are then distributed throughout Monongalia and Preston counties to those in need.
During last year’s drive, we were able to collect more than 2,700 items, and we’re hoping to receive just as many, if not more, this year.
The outerwear drive runs now through Jan. 15. To make drop-offs even easier for people, we’ve also expanded the list of collection sites available.
If you would like to make a donation, bins are located at:
- The Dominion Post: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
- Fairmont Federal Credit Union: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday and Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday.
- Gabe’s: 9 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday.
- Huntington Bank (Cheat Lake, High St., Suncrest locations only): 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday.
- J.D. Byrider: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday.
- WVU College of Law: 8:15 a.m.-4:15 p.m. Monday-Friday.
While Warm Hands, Warm Hearts Outerwear Drive has been going on for many years at the United Way, it’s Amy Schwinabart’s first time organizing the event. As the United Way’s new family resource network manager, she has worked hard to distribute barrels and nail down collection locations.
“I’m so excited to hit the ground running with a project like Warm Hands, Warm Hearts,” Schwinabart said. “This drive is important to many people in our community. And having so many businesses that are willing to step up and be a collection site is heartwarming to see. Everyone is coming together for a good cause, and we encourage our community to help us out with this by donating what you can.”
So, as you sit and sip your hot chocolate or coffee this morning, open gifts by the tree and enjoy the magic of the holiday, please consider giving some of that magic to someone in need. Perhaps there is a set of gloves or a coat you received that you could donate, or maybe there is a gently used item in your closet that could bring warmth and happiness to someone who needs it. As the name suggests, warm hands create warm hearts. Thank you for your donations!
For more information about the outerwear drive, contact Amy at 304-296-7525 or by email at frn@unitedwaympc.org.
