Keeping the Community Warm
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- Created on Tuesday, 29 October 2013 19:51
- Written by Diana Cogger
ST. JOHNSBURY - The weather is turning colder again, and that means digging out the hats, gloves and winter coats. Many people in our area don’t have the gear they need to stay warm this winter season. One recent event did what it could to provide cold weather-clothing to community members in need this past weekend.
On Saturday October 26th the 11th annual Paul Sweeney coat drive took place at the Salvation Army in St. Johnsbury. Paul Sweeney was an employee at Central Vermont Public Service years ago when he organized the first drive in St. Johnsbury. When he passed away a few months after the first event, it was renamed in his honor, and continues to this day with the continued support of the Salvation Army and the local community.
For the past 3 years, Community National Bank has lent a helping hand to the annual Paul Sweeney Memorial Coat Drive by donating warm clothing to give out to those in need. This year Michelle Langtang brought the effort a step further by giving up her Saturday to come out and help bundle up the community.
The weather was perfect for giving out winter jackets and cold weather gear: cold, blustery and spitting snow. People of all ages swarmed the clothing racks trying on different coats to find the perfect fit. Parents smiled with relief when they found the jacket that fit their child perfectly, then moved on to find something of their own.
Langtang shivered slightly as she watched the scene unfold, a heartwarming smile on her face. “It’s a huge deal, there are a lot of people in need. Providing warm clothing might seem like something small, but it’s a huge deal to people that really need it. That right there is something they don’t have to worry about anymore, and that’s important.”
Community National Bank used to do a separate coat drive in Lyndonville around the same time of year. They would then donate the leftover coats to the Paul Sweeney Memorial Drive. After deciding they didn’t want to take away from the St.Johnsbury event, they joined efforts a few years ago.
“What they do here, it’s a great thing,” Langtang continued, “ I wanted to be a part of it, that’s why I do this. Its amazing for the kids and families that don’t have much to have something like this. It’s the best feeling in the world to see them walk away warm and with a smile.”
