Most of us have done it: that coat that looked and felt great in the store has been left to languish in the back of a closet because another emerged as the favourite that gets worn all the time. Maybe it gets worn occasionally; maybe it’s been all but forgotten. It’s no big deal to us, but it’s an inconceivable idea to someone who doesn’t even have one warm coat for the coming winter. Algonquin Outfitters wants to change that.
The local retailer’s Winter Coat Drive is in its sixth year with local charities receiving the 60-100 jackets collected every year. In Huntsville, that charity is The Table Soup Kitchen.
“Algonquin Outfitters is a unique retailer because we have so many stores concentrated in a small region,” said AO’s marketing manager, Randy Mitson. “There are 12 AO stores, all within Muskoka, Haliburton and Algonquin Park and our owners, Rich and Sue Swift, support the local communities as much as they can.”
As incentive for supporting the coat drive, Algonquin Outfitters is offering a sweet deal. Bring a coat and buy a coat to get a $50 Algonquin Outfitters’ gift card.
Winter coats collected in Huntsville are donated to The Table Soup Kitchen
“Anyone who buys a new winter jacket and brings in a gently used jacket that meets the three Ws – warm, washed and wearable – will get a $50 gift card.” The warm requirement is obvious – Muskoka winters can get mighty cold – but donated coats also need to be wearable (no broken zippers or tears) and washed so that the charities don’t need to incur the cost of repairing or laundering the jackets. The coats are given to the charities’ clients free of charge.
Don’t need a new jacket? Don’t let that stop you. Algonquin Outfitters will still accept your warm coats even if you don’t want to participate in the gift card promotion. “Every year we have people who drop off jackets just so that they’ll go to a good cause,” said Mitson.
The Winter Coat Drive runs from November 1 – 30. While its a win-win situation for both customers and charities, AO has another way for you to win this month: their 2015 Photo Contest runs until November 30 and there are some terrific prizes up for grabs. Submit an original photo of an outdoor activity you enjoy for a chance to win.
And don’t forget that with winter on the way, ski season is fast approaching. Get inspired at Warren Miller’s Chasing Shadows, presented by Algonquin Outfitters at the Algonquin Theatre November 28. Get more details here.
Thanks Dave it’s great that each year our local communities dig deep into their closet and find dozens of extra winter coats to donate to local organizations like The Table Soup Kitchen and Sirch Community Services. We at AO are lucky to be involved and to help. A little $50 encouragement never hurts.
Good for AO! It is inconceivable that some don’t have one warm coat. I hope that we all dig in our closets and come up with some great donations.