Winter coat drive starts September 1

With cooler weather on the horizon, Community Assistance Program (CAP) and Interfaith Coalition are asking residents to donate new or used winter coats to keep their fellow community members warm this winter. The coat drive will start September 1 and run until the end of the month.

“Many families in our community rely on the coat drive to supply them with the warm items they need to get through the warm winter months,” said Amee Nelson, CAP winter coat drive director.

Clean new or gently used coats, hats, gloves, socks and blankets for adults and children will be accepted. The coat drive is especially looking for XXL, XXXL and toddler sizes this year.

The annual coat drive will have several drop-off locations this year: Blaine Library, Pacific Building Center at 2677 Bell Road, the Birch Bay Village golf pro shop, and many local churches. CAP volunteers are adding more drop-off sites that will be updated on the CAP website, blainecap.org.

CAP is a nonprofit made up of local churches that provides assistance to Blaine, Birch Bay, Custer and Point Roberts residents through annual programs such as the coat drive and Thanksgiving baskets.

In 2020, the community donated 383 coats and 341 of those were given out, Nelson said.

Volunteers will distribute the coats mid-October at the new CAP building at 508 G Street. Volunteers will distribute the coats from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. October 11, 5-8 p.m. October 13 and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. October 15; no appointment necessary.

The CAP building offers several handicap parking spots and ramp access to the upstairs is in the back of the building.

The winter coat drive is looking for volunteers to sort, organize and distribute coats. People who would like to volunteer can call Amee Nelson at 360/319-0269.

CAP also takes monetary donations on its website at blainecap.org/volunteer/donate or by check. Checks can be made out to Community Assistance Program, PO Box 1067, Blaine, WA 98231 and the program the donor would like to support needs to be included in the memo line.