Calgary refugee organizations need more winter clothing donations to meet demand

With cold weather on the way and a reminder that another winter is just around the corner, Calgary organizations that work with immigrants and refugees are asking for donations ofwarm clothing and footwear.

They say an influx this year in newcomers from places like Afghanistan and Ukraine means they need more help than usual keeping them warm through their first winter here.

"Right now, we need winter clothes, household items and blankets things for the winter,"said Devang Sampat with the End of the Rainbow Foundation, basedin Calgary's Beltline.

People in need can pick up free clothes and household items there.

The foundation was originally set up to help LGBTQ+ refugees in the city.

The foundation'sbase, next to the old Beltline Fitness and Aquatic Centre on 12th Avenue S.W., is also nowa donation point for the Centre for Newcomers.

The foundation operates out of the basement of the CommunityWise Resource Centre just west of the old city facility.

"Newcomers coming from different countries don't realize how cold it is. It's going to snow and it's going to 30, but they don't know," said Sampat. "They also don't know how to wear layers."

The Centre for Newcomers is launching a winter clothing drive to try to get a head start onmeeting the demand from new arrivals.

"Right now, what people are asking us for is winter clothing," saidKelly Ernst, vice-president of vulnerable populations at the Centre for Newcomers.

"Especially with the Afghan and Ukrainian arrivalsin the last 12 months, the amount of requestswe get has really increased," said Ernst.

"The refugees have noticed that the weather is changing and they don't have the right clothing," he said."We're now doing a winter clothing drive, and the change in the weather is a great way to start it."

People can donate clothes of any size, for any sex and for any age group, at the End of the Rainbow Foundation's donation centre, 223 12th Ave. S.W., between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.