Woodstock Public Library collecting winter accessory donations

The Woodstock Public Library is looking for donations of hats, mittens, gloves, and scarves to keep residents warm as part of Coldest Night of the Year. Donations can be brought to the library until Feb. 28. (Ailish Farrelly photo)

Emily Stewart, Echo Correspondent

Bringing new and gently used winter accessories to the Woodstock Public Library as part of their Warmest Hearts for the Coldest Nights Drive ensures residents can stay warm during the winter.

The Woodstock Public Library is collecting donations of winter accessories like scarves, mittens, hats, and gloves for the Coldest Night of the Year until Feb. 28. The library is also encouraging residents to consider donating larger items like winter coats and snowsuits directly to Operation Sharing, the organization supported by the Coldest Night of the Year fundraiser. Items in clean and good condition can be placed on the tree inside the library.

“We’re a smaller library system and we wanted to try and do something to support Coldest Night of the Year,” said Ailish Farrelly, community outreach librarian.

The winter accessory drive is in its third year and was inspired by other libraries having similar donation trees. Farrelly said donations are starting to come in, but more are welcome.

“This year, it’s been a little bit slower because of the cold and the weather that we've had this year. I think no one was really ready for it, but that's why we're really trying to promote it.”

Operation Sharing is a non-profit supporting people facing homelessness in Oxford County through services offered by the donation-based shelter. The organization on 22 Wilson St., Woodstock, will collect donations from Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Operation Sharing is particularly in need of adult winter coats for all genders.

"There aren't a lot of items for men and women right now, so anyone who has a coat and wants to donate, they can donate to Operation Sharing,” Farrelly explained.

Woodstock Public Library Staff will be participating in the Coldest Night of the Year Walk on Feb. 28, a Canada-wide fundraiser supporting shelters across the country. As of Jan. 27, there are 296 walkers and 63 teams registered for the walk and $64,396 raised for Operation Sharing, 42 per cent of the $150,000 fundraising goal.

“It's good for people to get out there, even though it is a cold night,” Farrelly said.

More information about the Coldest Night of the Year in Woodstock, including the opportunity to donate, can be found online by visiting https://en.cnoy.org/location/woodstock.