Hundreds of winter coats and jackets given to youngsters who don't have one by inSpire project at Inverness Cathedral
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MORE than 250 winter coats and jackets have been given away to youngsters who may otherwise have been without one.
The inSpire project at Inverness Cathedral has helped children, and sometimes even their parents.
The scheme is part of a larger project at the cathedral supporting children and young people who live in the city.
Project co-ordinator Lynne McWhinnie said she was delighted with the response to this year’s campaign.
Ms McWhinnie said: “We had a three-day giveaway including jackets for children and adults, toiletries and toys. We managed to help lots of people.
“Our project is funded by MFR, but people have been generous in their own donations giving us new or nearly-new coats and jackets.
“Even when people are being offered things for free, they want to give us a donation.
“The families who come to us for help are from across the board. We have given away jackets to families of five and to individual children. All we need is a form to say who the jacket is for and what size is needed. No one goes without.
“The inSpire project also funds breakfast clubs in parts of the city.
“We often see real extremes in our work. On one hand we had someone who came in and took away black bags full of toys for his family and on the other, a pensioner who gave us the last of his money, and didn’t take anything. Both are welcome here. We are here to support people.
“One autistic boy who came in to collect a parka jacket that we had ordered for him was so delighted that he gave me a high five. That was a big thing for him and meant the world to me.”
- For more, email office@invernesscathedral.org
