Bend Fire Dept. begins winter coat, warm clothing drive

The Bend Fire Department is conducting its annual Winter Coat Drive, which will run through Nov. 20.

Each of Bend’s five fire stations is a collection point, and items can be brought to your closest station:

Station 1: NW Simpson Ave.

Station 2: Tumalo

Station 3: Country Club Road

Station 4: Hamby Road, just south of Buckingham School

Station 5: the north end of Jamison Stree.

The fall season is upon us, and as you sift through the coat closet for your family and yourself, remember, we have a great opportunity to help those less fortunate.

This is the third year of the Bend Fire Warm Clothing Drive, and every year we make a positive impact with the donations we have received. The community has donated well over 1,000 pounds of warm gear including vests, mid-layer gear, coats, hats, gloves, socks, long underwear and scarves.

We donated the previous years’ items to the Bethlehem Inn, Central Oregon Veterans Outreach and the children of Deschutes County, through DHS. Through this program, we have possibly prevented some exposure calls. This year, we hope you can include warm blankets and like-new socks; if you have some that could be re-homed as well.

Last winter, a crew noticed someone riding their bike to and from work every morning who was living in the camp near the North Station. The person had no gloves and only had a thin hat. The North Station bin had a pair of super nice mittens and a warmer hat, and the crew gave them to the rider. To that person, that day, it made all the difference.

“We’re here when it gets too hot — and when it gets too cold!”