Warm clothes in demand

Warm clothes in demand
by Pamela Cowen
Regina Leader Post

"Families are coming in looking for women's and children's clothing and we have nothing to give them," said Pamela Snider, spokeswoman with the Salvation Army. "We're in desperate need of winter jackets, mitts, gloves and scarves."

The Salvation Army's Waterston Centre has been at capacity or nearly full every night since the mercury plummeted, said John Butt, hostel services co-ordinator.

When the 25 beds are taken, men are given bedding and mats and they sleep on the floor in the building's lounge.

"Within the last few days, we've been absolutely full ... Typically, when it's not cold weather, we'll run 16 beds a night. I'm assuming we'll be full this weekend because they're saying there will be windchills around -42."

Dan Kulak, meteorologist with Environment Canada, confirmed the ugly forecast and noted the windchill warning.

"We put out warnings when we have enough wind around that you're consistently going to have windchills colder than -40," he said Friday. "The conditions will rapidly deteriorate (today) ... (Today) and Sunday will be pretty darn miserable."

As the week goes on, Kulak said there will be degrees of misery.

"Monday won't be quite as miserable, but still cold," he said.

By Thursday, temperatures will moderate to around -9 C, which is normal for this time of year.

Citing information from Statistics Canada, Kulak said 598 Canadians died from exposure to cold between 2000 and 2005.

"If you take out the people who died from avalanches and things that aren't weather related, the cold weather fatalities account for 85 per cent of all weather-related fatalities in Canada," he said.

Rebecca Cochrane, the LifeChange program manager for Souls Harbour Rescue Mission, said her organization's two emergency shelters have been at capacity.

"When you're stuck out in the cold in -40 degrees, people often realize there's a need for change so we recommend they join the LifeChange program," she said.

"We want to see long-term change not just short-term housing or emergency sheltering. "

The LifeChange program is available for up to 23 men and eight women at a time who are struggling with any kind of life-controlling problem or addiction.

The mission hands out free clothing in the same building as the soup kitchen -- 1836 Halifax St. Donations can be dropped off at 3535 8th Ave.