Five coats were presented to Reconnect, Moncton YMCA
Five coats were presented to Reconnect, Moncton YMCA. The COATS of CARE is a special project to support homeless people during the long cold winter. We have placed 5 coats in the following cities with a reserve of 12 coats at Visions United Church (Moncton):
Location | City |
Sydney United Church | Sydney, NS |
Brunswick Street Mission | Halifax, NS |
Wilmet United Church | Fredericton, NB |
Reconnect YMCA | Moncton, NB |
Ramiro House | Saint John, NB |
Trinity United Church | Summerside, PE |
Bedford MacDonald House, Salvation Army | Charlottetown, PE |
The hooded coats are water-resistant, self-heating and transform into sleeping bags. The two large pockets act as storage, and can be worn as an over-the-shoulder bag when not in use. The coat is constructed of up- cycled automotive insulation, fabric from Carhartt, and other materials provided by generous donors.
The coats are made by homeless women in Detroit, USA as part of the EMPOWERMENTPLAN project. This project began in 2011 and to date they have produced over 9,000 coats. 28 women and their children (approximately 75) now have income security which is life changing.
The campaign resulted in 86 generous donations totalling over $11,000.00. Approximately 34% of the donations came from Visions United which represents roughly $3,700.00
This is a pilot project for the winter 2015-2016. We will be requesting feedback from these organizations about these coats and reviewing the results in the spring to determine future action. Stay tuned more for exciting news about this project.