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NEW CANAAN, Conn. – Reed Schultz wants people to stay warm this winter. So he’s launched the New Canaan Winter Clothing Drive to help less fortunate area residents stay bundled up.
So far, the drive has collected more than 25 gently used coats, along with several pairs of boots, heavy shoes and sweaters. “I was confident that people would donate,” he said. “We have a lot of generous and giving people in this community.”
Laura Prior of Lane Tree Farm Road dropped off five coats from her family at the Outback Teen Center, which is participating in the campaign. “I think it’s a wonderful effort,” Prior said, thanking Schultz for getting it started. “I hope it continues every year if he wants to do it.”
Schultz, 16, said he was inspired by a similar undertaking at the Brunswick School in Greenwich, where he is a sophomore. He said his family has contributed to needy causes before and he wanted to do something good in his hometown. His father, Bob, helped with the posters of a hat-wearing snowman that have been placed around town.
“I thought if we could have one in New Canaan, it could be two or three times bigger,” Reed said. “People don’t think that a lot of people in Fairfield County are struggling, but many are. This could be really helpful for them.”
Schultz, along with the Teen Center, the New Canaan Chamber of Commerce and the New Canaan Health and Human Services Office, started taking in donated items earlier this week. They are being dropped off near the front desk of the teen center.
Reed said he doesn’t have a specific number of coats he’d like to receive, though 70 “would be amazing.” He’s just happy that people are thinking of their less fortunate neighbors as winter approaches. “It’s not something for me. It’s something for the town,” he said.
The clothing drive will continue until Jan. 23.
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