Campaign asks NBers to provide the needy with supplies to keep warm

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Blankets, sleeping bags, winter coats, boots and other items you might have stuffed away in your closet could help a homeless person make it through the cold days and nights ahead this winter.

For the second year, Blankets for Metro Moncton Homeless is issuing an appeal to local residents to donate clean blankets, pillows and other items that can help the homeless.

According to Statistics Canada, about 18,000 people, or 14 per cent of local population, live below the poverty line. Some people live in impromptu shelters or spend their nights in local homeless shelters. Nazareth House, an emergency shelter in Moncton, served more than 765 clients in 2006, who stayed a total of 4,082 nights.

Blankets for Metro Moncton is looking for such items as boots, socks, hats, scarves, backpacks, duffel bags, suitcases, toiletries, children's clothes, diapers, feminine products, bus tickets, canned milk, grocery store gift cards, coffee coupons, laundry tokens and anything else that can help the homeless.

The collected items will be distributed to local outreach programs like YMCA Reconnect, Nazareth House, Crossroads for Women, Youth Quest, Moncton Youth Residences, MAGMA, Boutique Encore, SIDA/AIDS Moncton, Harvest House, St-Vincent de Paul, Mobile One, Karing Kitchen and Ray of Hope for our local homeless and at risk citizens as well as other local area programs that serve the homeless, people at risk of being homeless, and people living in poverty in our region.

Anyone wishing to donate large items, such as furniture, may call Nadine at 961-0963 for more information.

Items may be dropped off at the following locations:

* YMCA of Greater Moncton, 30 War Veterans Ave. Moncton.

* Abby's Home Cooking & Donair, 236 St. George St.

* Kandy Kafe, 1855 Mountain Road

* Lyle's Coast Gas, 356 St. George St.

* Damascus Coffee, 710 Coverdale Road, Riverview

* Moneys Worth Liquidators, 1067 Champlain Street, Dieppe