Newmarket's shelter needs donations of brand new underwear to help local individuals who are homeless.
Inn From The Cold on Penrose Street is seeking supplies of the clothing item that they said is an item many take for granted.
“To be able to put on clean underwear is a luxury,” executive director Ann Watson said. “For them it’s a luxury and it’s something that we don’t think about.”
The donation drive is an annual campaign that is being called “Brief Relief” this year.
While Inn From The Cold normally accepts gently used donations of clothing and shoes, socks and underwear need to be brand new. They are also items that are in high demand.
“Socks and underwear are items that are always always needed and always in short supply,” Watson said.
At the shelter, they used to have clients ask for items like soap or underwear if they needed them but last year they switched models. Now they’ve placed supplies like socks, underwear, and personal hygiene items in a tower of drawers outside the bathroom.
They put a big sign on top that reads “take what you need.”
“We thought, someone’s going to clean us out. They’re going to open the drawer, take out 10 pairs of socks and close the door and you know what, that never happened. It never happened,” Watson said.
She said staff will check the drawers regularly and restock if necessary but they find that the people who use their services won’t take items if they don’t really need them.
“They’re not here to take advantage, they’re just here to sort of get that hand up so they can survive,” she said.
On top of the Brief Relief campaign, there are other ways people can support Inn From The Cold.
“If people don’t want to go out and buy, you know go out to Walmart or Giant Tiger or wherever they buy underwear and stand in line and then drop it off, if they’re feeling uneasy about that then a financial donation through our website… that’s totally fine,” Watson said.
She also said they will have a golf tournament fundraiser later in August and lots of volunteer opportunities will come up in the fall.
Residents who want more ways to support the shelter are encouraged to follow Inn From The Cold on social media.
