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The 2012 Winter Outerwear initiative is seeking businesses, faith organizations and community groups to take part in this fall’s drive for winter coats and other necessities. Help Olmsted County residents from lower income households keep warm over the long, cold Minnesota winter!

Over 3,000 Olmsted County residents are in need of winter outerwear and eligible to receive winter coats this year. Helping with the Community Winter Outerwear Drive is easy. Just sign up to partner by visiting our website or calling United Way, then pick up posters and other supplies, and begin to collect donated items! Rally your colleagues, customers, friends, family, etc. to donate new OR gently used and clean winter coats, snow suits, snow pants and accessories such as hats, mittens, gloves, scarves and boots. The number of families in need is on the rise, so community support must increase as well. Our goal this year is to provide winter coats to 3,000 Olmsted County residents in need.

Participating in this community-wide effort can be both rewarding and beneficial to your business, faith organization or community group. A positive contribution shows a genuine concern for your neighborhood, and those families and other community members in need of help as we prepare for the cold winter months. For more information about this initiative and to register your organization as a collection site go to: www.uwolmsted.org/winterouterwear. For any other questions please contact Becky Nahvi at (507) 529-4831.

Major sponsors include Cumulus Broadcasting (KROC AM & FM), Dison’s Cleaners, Hy-Vee Food Stores of Rochester, Mayo Clinic, the Salvation Army, and United Way of Olmsted County.

Background

Purpose: Relying on the support of our Olmsted County community, the Winter Outerwear Initiative provides new or gently used and clean winter coats, hats, mittens/gloves, scarves, and boots to lower-income families and individuals. Businesses and organizations collect winter outerwear items and drop them off at United Way of Olmsted County (903 West Center Street) October 8-12 & 15. The winter coats and other items are sorted and distributed on October 18 & 19.

Sponsors: The Winter Outerwear program is a community-wide initiative of the United Way of Olmsted County. Major partners currently include Cumulus Broadcasting (KROC AM & FM), Dison’s Cleaners, Hy-Vee Food Stores of Rochester, Mayo Clinic’s Ways of Caring Committee and the Salvation Army.

Drive and Drop Site Partners: Drive Site Partners have an internal Winter Outerwear drive within their business or organization. Drop Site Partners allow community members to drop winter coats, boots and other items off at their business location.

Accomplishments: Last year, 2,561 community members received winter coats and warm outerwear items. This year our goal is to provide winter coats to 3,000 individuals with the help of over 50 drive/drop site partners around Olmsted County. For a complete overview of our program go to: www.uwolmsted.org/winterouterwear.