Posted on September 12 2023
17 years ago Gear Up For Outdoors & their staff had an idea to help those in our community who needed to stay warm whatever the reason! We have collected & donated in excess of 19,000 precious gifts for those less fortunate! The support from everyone in our community is a testament to our city's generosity! We truly are a city with a "GIANT HEART"
The 2024 Farmers Almanac & Weather Predicters are calling for a cold winter with lots of snow!
The days are getting shorter and colder, let’s get ready to "Spread the Warmth"
The Need for this community for cold weather jackets & coats during these next few months will be enormous and I’m sure our community will as they have done over the past 16 years... Be Up to the Challenge to Spread the Warmth.
We are going "CONTACTLESS" again this year as it ensures a more efficient collection process, mitigates risks & provides protocol that is meaningful while keeping everyone's safety top of mind.
If you are cleaning your closet & come across a clean warm sleeping bag!
The need is dire for providing warmth to those on the street or encampments...
Be a a part of something great this winter and bring in any of your Clean Winter Jackets/Coats and they will be donated to our friends at Precious Bundles, The Shelter House & Grace Place.
SAFETY PROTOCOL:
- All Coats & Jackets must be washed & clean
- Store them in an individual clear plastic bag - 1 Jacket per bag
- Gender & Size marked on each bag
- Please Drop off at Gear Up ~ Right Side Entrance Door
- Drop into the Laundry Bin Drop Off Site
- Enter in store, a draw for 1 of [6] $100.00 Keg Gift Cards.
- Separated for Children, Women & Men
- Weekly Pick-Up by Shelter House for distribution.
WHO YOU ARE SUPPORTING:
-
Precious Bundles [Infants to age 16] > The Need is always dire for our younger population!
Contact: Emily Shandruk & Allyson Veneziano
-
Shelter House [Adult Men/Women] > Funding is Critical & Essential
Shelter House will have a Donation Box & Private Envelopes located at Gear Up's Front Counter for any Monetary Donations
Contact: Cal Rankin E.D. Shelterhouse, or Sandy Lychowyd Resource Development Officer.
-
Grace Place [Collection Depot] > Distribution center for all of the jackets & coats collected on behalf of Shelter House Thunder Bay.
Contact: Pastor Sha & Melody Macsemchuk
DATES:
- Media Release - Tuesday October 3rd: 11:00am at Gear Up Parking Lot
- Coat Drive Dates: Monday October 2nd -> Friday December 15th 2023.
- Draw Date: Monday December 18th, 2023 all winners will be notified.
- Drop Off Location: Gear Up For Outdoors Ltd. 894 Alloy Place [Off of Central Avenue]
ABOUT THE COAT DRIVE:
Thank you Thunder Bay for supporting our 17th Anniversary Season & our community partnership between Gear Up For Outdoors, Shelter House, Grace Place, Precious Bundles, and The Keg Steakhouse & Bar.
So many in our community are blessed by the donations of your winter coats. There is never trouble finding a warm fit for those in need. The generosity of our community & outlying areas has always left a lasting impression on all those who benefit from your generous donations.
This Event would not be complete without mentioning our partners; The Keg Steakhouse & Bar, TBaytel as well as our Media Partners; Dougall Media, The Walleye, Shout Media and the Chronicle Journal.
Numerous businesses within our community encourage their employees, friends and families to "Spread the Warmth" and give generously for those in need;
A Special thanks for the following businesses and their employees;
Grant Thornton, RBC, Canada BrokerLink, Push Fitness, Maintain Air/Porter and Sleeping Giant Brewery.
With the cold weather upon us we thank the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce for their invaluable network of business owners for getting the word out to their employees, friends and families for the 2023 Spread the Warmth Winter Coat Drive Campaign.
The Staff at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Center TBRHSC are so deserving.
The North of Superior Health Group "NOSH" [Terrace Bay, Marathon & Schreiber Hospitals] collect donations along the North Shore communities and Courtesy Courier brings them to Thunder Bay.
Public School groups also help in collecting jackets & coats for this annual community event.
A special thanks to Lowery's Thunder Bay for the exposure of the Spread the Warmth Campaign on their digital signboard on Central Avenue.
Supreme Cleaners & Lakehead Cleaners have been gracious in providing Clean Sorting Laundry Bins. Thanks so very much Pinot.
If any business would like a Poster for their business to remind employees about the 2023 Campaign please be sure to reach out to Jon.
Alstom Women of Excellence
Krystal K & Nancy U collected over 250 Jackets & Coats
from the employees of ALSTOM Thunder Bay!
In receipt of the last donated Jackets on behalf of
Grace Place & Shelter House 2022.
FOR EVERY DONATION COLLECTED YOU WILL RECEIVE:
- A chance to win 1 of 6, $100.00 Keg Steakhouse & Bar Gift Certificates.
- Gear Up For Outdoors will give you a 10% Discount on the purchase price of a new winter jacket.
- Draw & Winners will be notified on Monday Dec 18th/2023; Just in time for Christmas Gift Giving.
One of 6 $100.00 Gift Cards
from Justin of the Keg Steakhouse & Bar - Thunder Bay
Thank you from our 2023 Gear Up For Outdoors Staff & Event Team.
Past Campaigns!