Cape Breton University Launches Welcome to Winter Coat Drive

Today, Cape Breton University launched a Welcome to Winter Coat Drive with the goal of ensuring that CBU students and their families are prepared for the upcoming winter season. With a large recent influx of international students from hot-climate countries, some will be experiencing their first east coast Canadian winter and may not be prepared for what is to come.
“We really just want everyone to be warm and comfortable this winter,” says Scott Thomas, Human Rights Officer, Cape Breton University and Welcome to Winter committee member. “Whether it is an international student who will be experiencing wind chill for the first time or a student who is a single parent and just needs some extra support, we want to make sure no one goes without the proper winter wear. We also realize that purchasing winter clothing can add to budgets that may be stretched, and we can help alleviate some of the worries.”
CBU is encouraging the public to donate their gently used or new winter wear, including hats, scarves, mittens, gloves and coats. Winter wear can be dropped off at any Walmart location in the CBRM, at the CBU Students’ Union,  Library or the President’s office.
On November 24, the CBU-branded transit bus will travel to each Walmart drop off location to pick up the donated winter wear. Donations will then be organized, sorted and prepared for a free pop-up shop. Students and their families will be invited to select a coat and accessories and also receive a free Welcome to Winter gift bag.
“Not only will we be providing students with what they need to stay warm this winter, we will also be making our communities more sustainable by creating a place and a purpose for those perfectly good jackets that have been hanging in closets for years,” says Thomas.
The free pop-up-shop will coincide with Giving Tuesday. Giving Tuesday is a movement to create a day for giving at the beginning of the holiday season. Over the last number of years, many organizations have designed fundraising around this day.
For more information on the Welcome to Winter Coat drive, please visit Life In Cape Breton