Give a Gift of Warmth

DULUTH, Minn. — Having and wearing a hat and gloves when you’re outside this time of year is a given for most people. But that’s not the case for many of the city’s homeless. At the warming center and other shelters around the city, those who need the shelter often don’t have even the basics.

“People are showing up unprepared for the weather. The gear that they do have is wet or they’ve lost it.  People are often released from institutions with nothing and will show up here without gloves, sometimes without a winter coat,” said Joel Kilgour, the project manager for Stepping On Up. He said he often sees this situation.

This leads to the shelters working to help the homeless who are simply trying to get out of the cold and get warm.

Kilgour said, “Yeah, that’s the biggest item that we need for right now is gloves and mittens, hand warmers, these are the things we run out of a lot. Boots are always welcome as well.”

During this current cold snap it’s obvious that gloves and hats are needed, but Kilgour said, “Fundamentally our problem is the lack of housing. When you look at the indicators of homelessness in any community, it’s the lack of affordable housing.”

Kilgour says there is no easy or fast solution to the housing issue in Duluth, but says there is something everyone can do.

“We need people to be advocating for housing solutions. There’s no way out of this crisis without more housing – and housing that’s affordable to all income levels.”

To help the shelters with their immediate needs for gloves and hats, you can drop off your donations at Chum’s administrative office located downtown at 102 West Second Street.