Charlottetown Coats for Kids giveaway drawing crowds

People were lined up outside the Salvation Army headquarters in Charlottetown Monday and Tuesday morning as the organization distributed winter clothing in its Coats for Kids campaign.

People started lining up at 8:15 for the 9 a.m. opening. Major Daniel Roode said hundreds of coats, hats, mittens and snow pants were handed out Monday, and he expects Tuesday to be similar.

This is the first year the Salvation Army handed out coats this way, concentrating it over two days. Previously, the Salvation Army would give out the coats over a number of weeks.

"What would happen is folks who were looking for a coat sometimes would feel compelled to come back two, three or four times, saying 'Have you got anything new in, or did you get anything better sized?'" Roode said.

1,000 coats

Roode said people coming this week will see everything that is on offer at once, so there will be no need to return.

Roode thanked a number of partner agencies that helped with Coats for Kid this year, including Stern's, who did the dry cleaning, Downtown Charlottetown Inc. and the Confederation Court Mall, that accepted donations, and the Moonlight Foundation, that donated some new coats and garments.

Hand-outs at the Salvation Army in Charlottetown will continue until 4 p.m. Roode figures as many as 1,000 coats will be handed out by then.

He does not expect any leftover garments at the end, but if there are he will send them to other Salvation Army locations in the province.

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