Sudbury 'holiday challenge' coat drive a 21-year tradition

Not everyone will enjoy the comforts of hearth and home this Christmas, but aman in Sudbury is hoping to help fix that again this year.

Author and long-time community volunteer RyanWickham will be with some of his friends on Saturday, collecting blankets and warm winter clothing for those in need.

The event, known as theSudbury Holiday Challenge, is a 21-year tradition,Wickham said.

"I come from a really good mom," he said.

"She would give anything and everything to everybody and my thinking was if I could be even a fraction as good of a person as she is, that I would be making a real difference."

The coats and blankets collected will be distributed in Sudbury's downtown at the Elgin Street Mission and Out of the Cold dinners.

Wickhamtold CBC Radio Morning North host Markus Schwabe more about the donation drive.

Morning North6:13Sudbury Holiday Challenge

Author and long-time community volunteer Ryan Wickham is hoping to help the needy this holiday season by collecting blankets and warm winter clothing. He's calling the event the "Sudbury Holiday Challenge". Ryan joined us in studio to tell us more.

Donations ofwinter blankets and clean, new or used warm clothing new or used can be dropped off at theCanadian Red Dragon tattoo studio on the Kingsway in Sudbury between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

For each item of clothing, thename willinto a draw for a Canadian Red Dragon gift certificate for tattoo work or piercings, or agift certificate from Vespa Turbo-Takeout kitchen on Regent Street.