Ed Choklek, HUGS for Homeless Committee Chair The Saint Teresa Avila Conference, Saint Vincent de Paul Society is launching its 2024-2025 HUGS for Homeless winter clothing drive for Carson City homeless adults. We are asking for $12,000 of monetary donations from the citizens of Carson City and its business community during the months of October, November and December to buy new winter clothing (coats, gloves, hats and socks) for our homeless population. Southwest Gas Foundation is this year’s HUGS for Homeless Campaign Leader with a $2,500 donation. HUGS for Homeless is a multi-year strategic effort to prevent and protect our homeless citizens from cold-weather disease and illness and from cases of frost-bite and hypothermia. Our goal is ZERO winter deaths within our homeless population due to exposure to winter weather. We see firsthand that our homeless population continues to grow each year due to the increasing gap between household incomes and the cost of rental housing in Northern Nevada. SVDPS volunteers’ daily interaction with our homeless Neighbors in Need shows that senior citizens and veterans are two of the fastest growing segments of unsheltered homeless citizens in Carson City. Your generosity during 2023 for our HUGS for Homeless project, along with volume clothing purchase discounts from BIG 5 Sporting Goods, C-A-L Ranch Stores and JC Penney, allowed us to purchase and distribute over $10,000 of new coats, hats, gloves and socks to our most vulnerable citizens during the 2023 - 2024 winter season. All donations to the HUGS for Homeless winter clothing drive are 100% tax deductible. Your monetary contribution via check can be written out payable to “SVDPS” and then mailed to: Saint Teresa of Avila Conference, Saint Vincent de Paul Society 3000 N. Lompa Lane, Carson City, NV 89706. Online donations to the Saint Vincent de Paul Society in Carson City can be made through your personal PayPal account via this LINK: https://www.paypal.com/US/fundraiser/charity/3111692 Below are frequently asked questions that we receive from our HUGS for Homeless supporters. Why do you only purchase new winter clothing versus accepting used winter clothing? All too often, used clothing is not in good enough condition and suitable for wearing 12+ hours daily during extreme outdoor conditions. We buy durable, high-quality winter coats (with hoods) and gloves that provide water resistance and thermal protection while being able to last the entire 5-month winter season. Why do you prefer monetary donations versus new winter clothing donations? First, as a Nevada 501(c)(3) non-profit business, we are exempt from state and local sales taxes. This results in 7.6% of savings compared to normal purchases by individuals. Second, we have negotiated volume discounts with preferred local retailers (BIG 5 Sporting Goods, C-A-L Ranch Stores and J.C. Penney) that are not available to other businesses, groups and individuals. This is a WIN-WIN for our local economy. When will the winter clothing be purchased, and what will you be buying? We plan to purchase winter clothing in October and early November (pre-winter season sales) and in January (post-holiday season sales). Depending on resources available, we may buy in March (winter clearance sales) for next winter. We only purchase adult men’s and women’s winter clothing - hooded winter coats, water-resistant gloves, knitted wool hats and crew-length athletic socks. One $100 donation supplies a new coat, two pairs of gloves, two hats and enough socks to last 5 winter months. Other early donors to the 2024-2025 HUGS for Homeless Campaign include: — Michael and Jean Bennert Trust — BIG 5 Sporting Goods — C-A-L Ranch Stores — Knights of Columbus Council #4781 — Port of Subs (N. Cason St.) — Rodeway Inn — St. Teresa of Avila Women’s Society — Senior Service Network Thank you in advance for your compassion and generosity towards our most vulnerable citizens. The Saint Vincent de Paul Society is a completely volunteer organization, so 100% of your donations will be spent on winter clothing. If you have any questions about HUGS for Homeless, please leave me a voice mail message at 775-882-1968 ext. 119 between the hours of 9:00am and 5:00pm on weekdays. In the Photo: Ed Choklek, SVDPS, Carrie Hegland SW Gas, Matt Helmer SW Gas, Sharon McCloskey SVDPS and Chris Anderson, SW Gas. Photo by Stacy Woodbury of SW Gas.