Rising costs, rising need: P.E.I. winter clothing drive pushes for donations

Winter clothing drives are picking up across the country, but demand is outpacing donations in P.E.I. Maria Sarrouh reports.

In Canada’s smallest province, winter clothing drive organizers say demand is big, and donations are struggling to keep pace.

Final donations trickled into Summerside, P.E.I.’s Credit Union Place Friday afternoon, in preparation for the city’s annual Coats for Kids event.

Sandra Gallagher, who helps run the campaign, sorted through dozens of bags of winter wear. She says every year, demand grows and more faces join the lineup. But this fall, drop-offs have been fewer than usual.

“Right now, with the price of everything, like groceries, oil, gas, it’s hard if you have one child or more than one child,” said Gallagher.

She remembers sifting through piles when her children were younger. Before getting involved around 15 years ago, she was someone who relied on the service.

Wendy Arsenault, a mother of three, has been coming to the event consistently. The first time, she hesitated, but swung by to find a snowsuit for one of her sons.

“My youngest needs a coat, and I’m going to need a coat, so I’m hoping to find one,” she said. “At least when we go outside, it’ll be nice and warm.”

Her teens are growing fast – some of the second-hand items become hand-me-downs, and other get re-donated back to the campaign.

Gallagher knows the program from both sides, and in recent years, from a new reality: She lost her sight five or six years.

Gallagher has diabetes and glaucoma, a group of eye diseases that can damage the optic nerve. She says a doctor told her she had a detached retina in her right eye, and despite surgery and extensive laser treatments, she suffered a fall while she was on a walk, leaving it beyond repair. She was also advised to get an operation on her left eye.

While she still does a lot of the work, her family and friends stepped up to keep the campaign going. Now, their message is simple.

“If you have a coat in your closet that you haven’t worn in awhile … maybe you don’t like it … maybe it’s too small. Would you consider donating it to someone else?” Gallagher asked.

As for families, she wants them not to be shy.

“Just come out and get what you need,” she said. “Sometimes you have to swallow your pride. I did.