Project Keep Kids Warm returns to collect winter clothing for kids
ISHPEMING — Marquette County residents are getting ready to provide warm clothing for kids for the fifth straight winter.
Project Keep Kids Warm is a winter clothing drive for young people in western Marquette County, from infants to 18-year-olds. Four thousand donation bags are going out into the community this Saturday. Volunteers have been busy at Wesley United Methodist Church in Ishpeming, labeling all of those bags.
“Many, many churches feel the desire and the need to just be a part of this community that’s helping people to give something back to those in need,” project coordinator Dick Derby said.
The bags will be collected on Saturday, October 4th. The coats, hats, gloves and other items will be given away at the Ishpeming Armory on Saturday, the 11th.
“Between 300 and 400 families are served in our community,” Derby said. “It’s an emotional day when the kids come in and get to pick out these brand–new winter snowsuits and jackets and a new pair of boots, and know that they’re going to be warm for winter.”
Project Keep Kids Warm collected about 6,000 new or gently used winter clothing items last year.