For the second year in a row, the annual sock and toque granny drive has gathered winter attire from staff and residents at Retirement Concepts Williams Lake Seniors Village to give to people in need.
“We collected 210 pieces,” said marketing manager Tammy Deausy on Friday after she and clinical lead, Lisa Walker, handed the donations to Salvation Army family services co-ordinator and outreach worker, Tamara Robinson. “We started collecting things in mid-November right up until today.”
Deausy said the idea to pay it forward by collecting warm clothing came from Barb Vance, a previous tenant.
“Last year was our first year doing it and we collected 142 pieces. At all our sites around the province, we collected 4,000 pieces. We won’t know how much has been collected this year provincially until the new year, but we know we’ve surpassed last year’s collection.”
All of the mittens, scarves and toques are brand new, even though Deausy said they asked for new or gently used items.
“The local Knotty Knitters knitted six scarves to give,” she added.
Walker said they chose the Salvation Army because it is a central place in Williams Lake where the items could be shared.