Have old winter coats gathering dust? Donate them to the annual AO Winter Coat Drive

If you have a gently used winter coat you no longer wear, consider donating it to the Algonquin Outfitters Winter Coat Drive.

The annual initiative, now in its tenth year, distributes the coats to agencies who then provide them to those who can’t afford warm winter wear.

Four Algonquin Outfitters locations participate in the drive: Huntsville, Oxtongue Lake, Bracebridge, and Haliburton. Anyone who donates a coat during the month of November will receive a coupon for $25 off when you spend $100 in-store before Christmas.

All coats donated in Huntsville will go to The Table Soup Kitchen Foundation.

“The Table Soup Kitchen Foundation is so appreciative of Algonquin Outfitters for organizing a coat drive for our Exchange Store guests again this year,” said The Table’s CEO Heather Berg. “AO’s new creative approach [the coupon] should engage a lot of community members into getting those unused winter coats out of their closets. What a great way to keep our community warm this winter.”

Volunteers at The Table gradually put out the coats at the organization’s Exchange Store, their free store that anyone in need can visit.

“The Table is very important to us,” said AO marketing manager Randy Mitson. “I hope everyone in the community can support this project. We hope that since we have collected many coats over the years that the need starts to not be as great anymore.”

In the past, anywhere from 100-200 coats a year have been given to The Table through this initiative.

“AO has 12 stores in the area and we all live and work in our own backyards,” said Mitson. “If we don’t support the wellbeing of the communities we’re in then we won’t be successful. We want our community to know that we support them and are there for them. It’s so special to see the everyone realize that we are better as a whole.”

Jackets should be washed and wearable. In light of COVID-19, AO is asking that donations be placed in a clear plastic bag before being dropped off.

In addition to the coat drive, during the month of December AO partners with The Table to donate grocery gift cards, clothes, toys, work clothes and more to a handful of families. Money is donated to AO by customers and then AO goes shopping for the families.

The AO Winter Coat Drive runs for the month of November. For more information, visit algonquinoutfitters.com or call 705-787-0262.

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