Clothing donations help newcomers brave 1st blast of Calgary winter

Newcomers facing harsh winter weather for the first time in their lives are turning to clothing donations, including winter jackets, to keep warm on Calgary streets this week.

Many immigrants and refugees simply can't afford to dress for Calgary winters and often arrive unprepared to face sub-zero temperatures and wind chills.

Used winter clothing is in demand more than ever at this time of year.

"This is the first snow I saw, this is the first time in my life and it is too strong," said Palestinian newcomer Sireen Abusultan, browsing racks of donated jackets at the Centre for Newcomers at Pacific Place Mall in northeast Calgary.

She says seeing and feeling the temperatures in Alberta this week has been a shock. She's still getting the hang of dressing for winter.

"I got to bring a jacket but actually I still feel cold. I put all the clothes on under the jacket then put the jacket on with a lot of things: hat, gloves, mittens, everything. It's freezing," said Abusultan.

"This is a completely different temperature for me," she said.

Others, like Jamal Ahmed and Abdel Hafiz from Sudan, browse hats, scarves and try on an old jacket from the 1988 Winter Olympics. It's a warm find and a good fit.

On the other side of the clothing rails, Hasan Al Halak along with his wife and two kids hold up different jackets and sweaters to each other, checking for the right size.

Al Halak says he came to Calgary one month ago from British Columbia where it was much warmer.

"Everything is good. They help everybody for snow, for cold," he said, referring to the Centre for Newcomers. "Thank you, for help," he said.

Most of the current clothing donations on offer have come from the Muslim Council of Calgary and other Calgarians, says Mohamad Awada with the centre.

"A winter jacket in Canada is completely different from a winter jacket from back home," said Awada.

"People can be shocked by how cold it gets. The government and organizations like us help, but clothes are not always available and that's why we need the community's help and the community's support," said Awada.

"Financially, they struggle," he said. "The MCC donated brand new jackets and we did outreach in the community."

Awada says the centre is always looking for donations. Right now, winter boots and jackets are in demand for families in need.

Other organizations are doing the same, including the Love With Humanity Association and the Pakistan Canada Association in Calgary, which are collecting winter gear for newcomers and others in need across the city. 

They have a drop off location on Saturday, Nov. 30 from 12 p.m. until 4 p.m. at the PCA hall at 4656 Westwinds Drive N.E.