Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — There’s never been a greater need for LIFT-UP of Routt County’s annual coat drive.

LIFT-UP Executive Director David Freseman said because of the economic recession, he expects there to be greater demand for coats this winter.

“We have good coats that are inexpensive in our thrift store, but it’s not free,” he said. “Some people choose to pay bills before buying a coat. To be able to jump-start the winter by giving out free coats I think is a very valid effort.”

The annual coat drive, which Freseman said started at least eight years ago, is today and Sat­ur­­day. Donations of gently used winter coats will be accepted from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today in the parking lot at Space Station and during the same time Saturday in the Walmart parking lot.

Freseman said volunteers from Colorado Group Realty would accept the donated coats and take them to Ski Town Cleaners. He said to look for the cargo truck with Colorado Group Realty and LIFT-UP written on the side.

Laurie Peter, advertising coordinator for Colorado Group Realty, said the company got involved with the coat drive about three or four years ago. She said about a dozen employees are volunteering during the drive.

“LIFT-UP does the coat drive every year. When we purchased our moving truck, it was a natural fit to have unlimited space for the coats,” she said. “As a company, we want to give back to the community. We feel LIFT-UP is a great organization to partner with, whether it’s a coat drive or food drive.”

Freseman said LIFT-UP re­­ceived about 250 coats last year, and he hopes to exceed that number for this winter. He encouraged people to donate only warm winter coats and to save their windbreakers and light jackets for a warmer season. Freseman said LIFT-UP also would accept gloves, mittens and stocking caps.

He said anyone who is unable to donate a coat during the coat drive could drop one off Monday through Oct. 29 at Ski Town Cleaners on Curve Plaza, which is cleaning the coats for free.

The coats will be available at the LIFT-UP food bank from 1 to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays starting Nov. 1, Freseman said. He said there was a one-coat-per-person limit, but no cap on the number of coats that could be provided to a family.

Freseman said the coat drive is important for Routt County every year, but even more so as the winter approaches during a tough economy.

“There are a lot of people who just can’t afford to buy coats, especially families with children,” he said.