By Derek Schlennstedt
Winter – the perfect time to rug up, turn the heating on and hibernate indoors.
For the majority this is the way they spend winter, cosied up inside with a blanket; but, for many winter is a time they dread – where the temperatures plummet and the only source of warmth they get is by putting on more blankets and coats.
To help those who cannot help themselves, the team at Yarra Valley Innate Chiropractic are calling on residents to donate warm clothing and blankets as part of its annual winter appeal.
The coat drive aims to gather up as many coats and blankets as possible, to be donated to charity groups across the Valley, including Warburton’s Redwood Community Centre.
Dr Alex Rodwell, from the clinic told the mail that the partnership they had with the Redwood centre in Warburton had been going on four years and each year they received more and more coats for those who needed them most.
“A lot of people in the Upper Yarra only have fireplaces in their house, for whatever reason can’t afford firewood, and older people struggle to make it through winter.”
“The winter coat appeal is a way that we can share news that this is a problem which is going on and we can all help to fulfil that need,” Mr Rodwell said.
Each year the clinic receives hundreds of coats and blankets and Alex is urging people with any spare old coats or blankets to donate.
“Hundreds of coats – we have one dedicated room and fill it completely.”
“It does come back to those extra layers … some mornings you go outside and will put on an extra layer, and almost everyone has a cupboard of old coats and blankets to sort through.”
“It’s a great excuse to do an early spring clean,” he said.
Alex said any coats or blankets that were clean, in wearable condition, and had a bit of warmth in them were candidates.
The drop-off points are at Yarra Valley Chiropractic clinics – 660 Mitcham Road, Vermont, 4 Hoddle Street, Yarra Junction, 2 Bell Street, Yarra Glen and at the Warburton Redwood Community Centre.
