Guiding Light’s ‘Keep GR Warm’ Accepting Winter Clothing Donations
Guiding Light Mission’s Back to Work program director Matthew Holmes is in charge of sorting through the Keep GR Warm donations.So far, winter's cold snap has not invaded West Michigan like it has in previous years. However, the staff at Guiding Light Mission knows Jack Frost's raw chilliness is a momentary reprieve.It's for that reason GLM recently launched its initiative called Keep GR Warm.
This is not the first year GLM has accepted donations of coats, blankets, gloves, hats and socks, said its executive director Stuart Ray.
One step ahead of Old Man Winter
What is different this year: Keep GR Warm is an effort to stay ahead of Old Man Winter with a more intentional campaign that's getting the word out to the public sooner in the year that donations of warm clothing are needed.
In retrospect, Keep GR Warm endeavors to stay ahead of the curve from previous winters such as last November, when snow quickly piled high and deep and temperatures plummeted.
Where to donate
Donations can be made at GLM, located at 255 S. Division Ave., which is in the Heartside District of downtown Grand Rapids.
"We were rally caught off guard a year ago with all that snow in November," said Ray. "We decided to get ahead of the curve this year."
And while GLM's services are specifically geared for homeless men, the tax-deductible donations made to Keep GR Warm will benefit women, children and young people who need to stay warm, said Ray.
And thanks to Keep GR Warm, other ministries within the Heartside District and beyond are receiving the donations of winter clothing, as well as a handful of area school districts, said Ray.
"We want to keep everyone safe, warm and secure on the street," said Ray. "This community is very philanthropic. I'll bet there are 400 to 500 jackets setting here. A lot of them are brand new ones. This is a very generous community."
CONNECT
www.keepgrwarm.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/keepGRwarm/?fref=ts
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