The Salvation Army’s winter clothing stockpile amassed in summer is running dry as the winter frost bites.
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People in desperate need of an extra shirt or coat to keep warm have called upon the Salvation Army and St Vincent de Paul. The steady stream of demand has left the Salvos with few spare coats.
“Our family store is short on winter clothing,” Captain David Grounds said.
He explained there was often large donations at the end of winter, but it didn’t solve the immediate need for many people struggling to keep warm. Meanwhile, Mr Grounds said others scrapped together a tank of fuel to head to warmer climates.
“Winter clothes are needed now, if we get them when the weather changes, we have to store them until next year,” Mr Grounds said.
The stocks of jackets, skivvies and flannelettes are desperately low. Mr Grounds said every piece of extra winter clothing donated goes towards supporting the Salvos’ work in Orange.
“Cheap winter stock helps people keep warm and helps support our other work with disadvantaged youth,” he said.
The need for extra winter clothes comes as Bathurst runs out of spare blankets to hand out to residents trying to protect themselves from the cold.
Mr Grounds said Orange had not seen a massive spike in demand for winter clothes or blankets that Bathurst had. St Vincent de Paul Society’s Maurie Ryan said a spike in demand following cold weather was expected.
”There’s a seasonal increase in people looking for warm clothes and blankets, but we’ve able to meet it thanks to the generosity of the people of Orange through their donations,” Mr Ryan said.
“If you’ve got warm clothes or blankets to donate, we can always find someone who needs them.”