Hundreds of coats given to those in need in Norfolk

Hundreds of Norfolk residents will be warmer this winter thanks to a coat giveaway organized by the Rotary Club of Norfolk Sunrise.

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About 100 families and individuals selected coats and other winterwear from racks set up Saturday morning at First Baptist Church in Simcoe.

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“I got here at about 8:30 am and the lineup had already started,” said Bettyann Carty, who oversaw the event, which has been held for more than 15 years.

About 1,100 gently used coats were dropped off at Peerless Cleaners locations throughout Norfolk. The business cleaned the items free of charge.

Carty said about 685 coats were given away on Saturday morning to families and individuals.

“People could fill their bags,” she said. “We just tell them to take what they need.”

Also available were 180 hand-knitted mittens and hat sets, 25 pairs of slippers and 63 lap blankets, all created by volunteer members of Langton Knitters. The group has been donating items to Rotary’s Coats for Kids and Adults for many years.

All of the leftover clothing and knitwear was distributed to three local churches and the Norfolk Pregnancy & Family Resource Centre.

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