More people are seeking warm clothing and meals at the Salvation Army lately. (file photo/paNOW Staff)

By Rob Mahon

Salvation Army Support

Salvation Army in need of warm clothing as temperatures drop

Oct 18, 2022 | 12:00 PM

Cold weather, high food and gas prices, and tough economic conditions mean the Salvation Army in Prince Albert is getting flooded with requests.

Meals and warm clothing have been quickly snapped up by a growing number of people in need of help.

With overnight lows expected to be below 0 Celsius starting on Friday night and likely for quite some time afterwards, the need for winter clothing will be on the way up. The Salvation Army is asking for donations at their thrift store on Central Avenue as more people come looking for it.

“We’re already starting to see that,” Major Ed Dean said. “With the cold weather last week it was an extremely busy week for us with blankets, winter jackets, any of that winter apparel, boots, heavy socks, long-johns.”

According to Dean, they’re in need of gently used items of winter clothing. He stressed gently used, as damaged winter clothing doesn’t help them.

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“If they have a hole in them, if they’re stained, if there’s a broken zipper, we can’t use them,” Dean said. “If people would be so kind as to donate gently used winter apparel, it would help us out immensely as we go into the winter season. It’s imperative that people are warm in their hands, feet, head, and body.”

Winter clothing isn’t the only thing the Salvation Army is seeing people in more need of, however. Like many other community organizations, they’re finding people need help with meals as the price of both food and gas continues to rise.

“Our community meals that we’re serving, January this year we were serving 60 bagged lunches three times a week,” Dean said. “Now we’re serving roughly 180 bagged lunches three times a week, so that’s a massive increase.”

With the closing of The Gate earlier this fall, resources for the city’s homeless population are getting fewer and fewer. Much of that weight now falls on the Salvation Army.

“If they’re unhoused, then they’re coming to us for blankets, they’re coming to us for that heavy winter coat, they’re coming to us to try to keep warm,” Dean said. “It’s important that we do see some of that stuff come in. I know there are some northern communities calling as well and saying, ‘Can you help us out?’ We know it’s going to be a cold winter.”

Dean added they’ll start their annual Kettle Campaign on November 21 of this year, followed by a toy drive, which they’re expecting to see more applications for as with their other programs. He thanked the community for any support they could provide.