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Penticton  

Warmth for the homeless

A Penticton nursing student's effort to help homeless people stay warm this winter is picking up momentum.

Mike Forster, who created the Keep the Cold off Penticton Facebook page, to collect donations of warm clothing, said more in the community are getting involved.

"I completely never expected this, but I love it," he said. "It's like it's got a life of its own."

He now has a logo on his SUV that says Keep the Cold Off Penticton, created by Jennifer Taylor with Taylormade Ideas, and a donation box has been set up at Parkers Chrysler.

Anyone who donates to the drop box in the showroom gets an ice scraper.

The South Okanagan Women in Need Society is supportive and Forster is also working with the harm reduction nurse at Interior Health and God's Kitchen.

With everything going so well, Forster says his next goal is to register as a charity.

In addition to Keep the Cold Off Penticton, the Cover with Kindness blanket drive continues in the city.

Residents can drop blankets, sleeping bags, toques, scarves, sleeping bags and more off at Greg Litwin's office at 699 Main Street.

This is the sixth annual blanket drive held by Litwin, the director of the Soupateria Society.

The items will be given to the homeless and others in need on Dec. 14 and 15 at St. Saviour's Church, adjacent to the soup kitchen.

People without a roof over their head in the cold weather, can find shelter at Compass House, 123 Nanaimo Avenue East, in Penticton.

The extreme weather shelter opens when the temperature drops to -5 C. It is open from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. and provides 10 beds to men and women.

 



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