Citywide winter clothing drive brings Medford together to support residents

By Sangmin Song

Coats are piling up at libraries, schools and community centers across Medford, where a citywide winter clothing drive is turning corners of the city into hubs of cold-weather support. The city and its partner organizations are putting their efforts behind gathering as many jackets, boots and gloves as possible to help residents brace for the colder months ahead.

The drive, led by Medford’s Community Engagement Team, will come to fruition at the Winter Preparedness Event. Families can pick up free coats, hats and gloves Thursday while accessing information about heating assistance and other services.

“We have boxes located throughout the city with many of our partners collecting winter supplies, and Anton’s Cleaners generously cleans the used coats for free,” said Catherine Dhingra, the city’s Office of Prevention and Outreach manager.

The effort relies on a wide network of community groups to reach residents, Dhingra said. Flyers were posted across the city, and some were translated into multiple languages to expand accessibility.

“We all partnered together to get the word out to residents,” she said. “We really needed to increase our dropbox locations this year, so we put a call out to all of our partners and everyone generously agreed to host collection sites.”

The Medford Family Network is among the organizations involved in the drive. Irina Shumway, MFN’s program manager for family and community engagement, said the collaboration continues the network’s ongoing work with the city to support families.

“There’s just different ways we try to present and be connected to some of these city events,” Shumway said. “Being present at the Winter Preparedness Event gives us direct access to families to let them know there are other resources in the city.”

Donations have been steady, Shumway said, with many residents looking for ways to help as the holiday season approaches. The recent delay in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits caused by the federal government shutdown also prompted more community members to step forward.

“People are donating, and I feel like people tend to be mindful and generous, so it’s been great,” she said. “With the SNAP benefits being cut and the current situation, I think people have definitely stepped up quite a bit more in terms of donating.”

The Mystic Valley YMCA, which serves many Medford residents, also is participating in the clothing drive. Debbie Amaral, the YMCA’s president and CEO, said she saw participation immediately from members.

“Every day I have a thousand members come through my door, so advertising the collection here means we can get a lot of clothes,” Amaral said. “On the first day, someone dropped off a jacket and a member who needed one took it.”

The clothing drive helps families manage the cost of outerwear, which can add up quickly as children grow, Amaral said. She said the rising living expenses and reduced benefits adds strain for many households.

“Kids outgrow their jackets, and it’s an expense parents have a hard time meeting,” she said. “Things are expensive now, and the issue with SNAP has put people extra behind, so hopefully there will be kids’ and adults’ jackets available.”

The clothing drive is part of the city’s work addressing the social determinants of health, Dhingra said. Warm coats may bring residents in, but the goal is to connect them to long-term support services.

“A lot of what we do is addressing the social determinants of health, and you can’t be healthy if your basic needs aren’t met,” she said. “Warm coats help get people in the door, and then we can connect them to vaccinations, MassHealth renewals, heating assistance or other services.”

The drive is part of a broader effort to help families meet basic needs, Shumway said, and support in one area often frees up resources for others.

“When they’re on their feet and have community supports, they end up coming back,” she said. “If we can help with food or other assistance, that could free up their finances for medical bills or utilities.”

As the winter approaches, Dhingra said, many people struggling with costs may not speak up about their needs. She encouraged residents to donate or share information with neighbors, and help everyone stay warm.

“There are a lot more people impacted by the current economy, and much of it is hidden,” she said. “We can break the stigma by checking on neighbors, sharing information about events like this and helping people feel connected.”

Sangmin Song is a senior journalism student. This story is part of a partnership between Gotta Know Medford and the Boston University Department of Journalism.