Inner City Development says lives are on the line.
SAN ANTONIO — Donations flowed in quickly when west-side nonprofit, Inner City Development, said they needed warm jackets and other supplies for their emergency clothing closet.
When temperatures dropped to the freezing zone, a social media post asked for immediate donations of coats, scarves, beanies and gloves.
Now they say many people responded but the need is still great as they have been giving away supplies as soon as they arrive.
Molly Ramirez supervises the operation. She says it’s heartbreaking when people living on the streets come in asking for help and she has nothing to offer.
“It’s flying out the door and sometimes I have nothing!” Ramirez said.
Ramirez said it’s common to run out of men’s clothing and guys will ask for women’s wear to fight the cold.
The group ran a successful “Socktober” campaign in October and gathered a sock supply they hope will last all year but Ramirez said other essentials are badly needed.
Ramirez pointed out one small milk crate with just a few hats, while saying most of what’s on hand is more appropriate for summer wear.
“It doesn’t matter,” Ramirez said, as people are so anxious for help, they gratefully accept anything available.
Hats, she said, are important because so much body heat can be lost when a person has nothing.
When it comes to underwear, Ramirez opened a storage container that was nearly empty.
She said people who have been cold and wet are always grateful for a chance to be clean and dry.
The sizes that are most in demand, according to the group’s website, are men’s pants sizes 32 – 38.
Large trash bags while not fashionable are useful also, Ramirez said, as combining a coat with a waterproof layer is a much better insulator.
An online post urges everyone to go through their closets for items that haven’t been worn in years.
Ramirez also said buying in bulk either online or from discount stores is a really cost effective way to make donation dollars go further.
Donations are accepted from 9 a.m. to noon at 1300 Chihuahua Street.
More background on the group can be found here.