Take a Walk in The Park A huge Success
Yesterday’s Event by Coats on Finlay was a roaring success. Called “Take a Walk in the Park” the event was held at Riverside Veterans Memorial Park across the street from City Hall.
Coats on Finlay started in 2018 with Kym Porter, Helen Snortland and Shannon English. They had 200 coats donated that year. By 2021, over 1000 coats were donated as well as hats, mitts, boots, scarves…
In 2024, a donation from the other side of the country allowed the ladies to purchase at least 40 pairs of wool socks. Blankets were also available.
A Downtown business owner told the ladies
“Coats on Finlay is great! You should do the same thing with shoes.”
So
They did
The campaign said
“Donate a pair of quality shoes, take a pair!”
The Facebook event said
Accepting shoes, sandals, boots of all makes and sizes.
Leave them on the pathway through the park.
Shoes will remain overnight until 8 am Monday at which time we will collect and
donate to outlets hopefully where they will remain free to the public.”
The Medicine Hat Owl was there to document the event
Hundreds of shoes, sandals, sneakers and boots were donated.
There were plenty of people “shopping” for new shoes.
One young man was near tears when he told me,
“My last pair of shoes fell apart 2 days ago, my feet were hurting.”
His smile was infectious when he said this event was like a miracle.
I saw young families looking for shoes.
I saw one young man with a very swollen leg wrapped in a dressing - he got some slippers that could allow for room for his swollen foot.
I saw one man who was so happy to get new shoes that he was dancing. He told me that he goes through a pair of shoes a month. I don't doubt it - when you are unhoused, you do a lot of walking.
The organizers guesstimate the number of shoes to be around 1000. As for the leftovers - some went to a local organization called Ma’s and Pa’s, some went to the Medicine Hat Health Foundation and some went to the Lions Club International Foundations for their partnership with the Soles4Souls program. The winter boots were retained for this year’s Coats on Finlay.
Coats on Finlay would like to express their great thanks to the MH Community for their support
Coats on Finlay History
Coats on Finlay was the brainchild of Kym Porter and Helen Snortland; the idea came to them around New Year’s in 2018. They started making plans and held the first Coats on Finlay that year.
In 2019 they received about 200 coats.
In 2021 they received 1000 coats. Here is a Facebook post from that event by our newly elected Mayor Linnsie Clark. The Owl (Community TV) did this video.
Over the years, the founders have received help from friends who volunteered, support from the college nursing students as well as the college rec dept who collected coats for them at a hockey game.
In 2024, they estimate that another 1000 coats were donated.
Comments from 2023 Coats on Finlay
•the weather is way better then last year (it snowed/freezing rain in 2022)
•If I find a different coat, I’ll leave this one here for someone else because I don’t need two coats
•this is such a beautiful thing to do
•need some hot chocolate? (yes please!)
•got any gloves? (yes, we have plenty in the bins)
•I got this coat here last year
•can you help me find a coat for my mom? (yes, let’s go shopping)
•I brought the kids so they can pick out a coat
•I’m disgusted that some families have bags of clothes (note- some families have just arrived in our country with 7 children to dress for the weather here- we do not know their stories and try not to judge but appreciate your honesty.)
•some body made this? wow! (we received many homemade hats, mitts, socks and the love put into them was palpable.)
•need any help? (yes, we love the extra hands.)
•how long does this go? (coats are on the bridge all night and are removed Sunday morning at 8 am. The POST Thrift Store continues to give them away for free)
•I found a dime in a bin of hats- someone is thinking of me! ()
•do you have any blankets? (we do this year and they disappeared quickly)
•I put my donation on wire hangers. Shall I hang them in the bridge? (thanks- wire hangers work best)
•I brought this coat back because the zipper doesn’t work. (sorry about that, we try and check them all before they hit the bridge)
•here’s my jeans, I found a new pair of warmer pants on the bridge (- umm thanks- not sure where you did the exchange but happy for you.)
•how come you let people start before noon as the poster said noon to start and I waited and missed some stuff? (New donations arrive all day long so we think it works out however sorry that bothered you. )
•doing this next year? (we’re already talking about it and how to take our learnings this year to improve the experience for ALL next year …)
Twas The Day Before Coats on Finlay
Twas the day before Coats on Finlay when all thru the town
People cleaned out their closets and made a happy sound
They sang some songs and shouted with glee
‘My closets look better, just come and see.’
They packed up their donations and put them in their car
They knew on Saturday they didn’t have to go far
Finlay Bridge stood proudly waiting for all the warm coats
That would soon be removed from individual totes
Children and others felt grateful on this day
As they left the bridge with warm clothes to go play
Our citizens are kind and generous too
We look out for each other, that’s what we do
So thank you Medicine Hat for helping us look out
For those in need, your kindness is never in doubt.
