Winter clothing pickups set for West Ferris area church this week

A new clothing drive has that is replacing Operation Warmth this fall continues to gain steam in the community. 

Justin Fotheringham, associate pastor at Lakeshore Evangelical Church on Lakeshore Avenue in North Bay says they will be distributing clothing out of a tent in the parking lot starting on Tuesday.   

"We are going to do two weeks potentially, it is weather permitting and it looks like it is going to be great for the next two weeks," said Fotheringham.  

"We are going to be the distribution centre. We are actually going to set up a tent outside and we will be rolling from Tuesday to Saturday and then it would be 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. so we would be sorting clothes earlier and having everything ready each day so people can come up."

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The Lakeshore Evangelical Church decided to start a program to fill a void after their church agreed to take over for Operation Warmth which was cancelled due to COVID-19.  

For the past 24 years, the winter clothing drive has operated from the small basement area of the Redeemer Lutheran Church under the direction of Rev. Jerry Slote. 

Fotheringham says the response has been overwhelming as they have received as many as 25 to 30 bags a day last week.  

"It is just amazing the amount of clothes we have been getting in," said Fotheringham. 

"I am blown away. I know this is something that has been done for a long time but just seeing the entire city come together with excellence that is just awesome and I am so thankful to North Bay. The stuff that has been coming in all bagged, boxed properly and its all really nice stuff. It's not stuff that has been used for six seasons and someone will only get a couple months out of it. It is just phenomenal the amount of good stuff we have been getting in."

Fotheringham believes this type of event is something churches should naturally do. 

"I am glad we can do from the beginning to the end of it so I am just thankful we were committed even to go in this direction so, from the distribution side, it just made sense. The clothes are here anyway. We want to do whatever we can and if this helps now even more then great, we are in for sure."

Fotheringham says while the clothing is being distributed this week, they will continue to take donations at their location at 656 Lakeshore Drive.