With freezing temperatures and winter weather on the way, Merrymeeting Bay Triad announced that the “Coats For Seniors” collection drive will again culminate at the L.L.Bean Flagship Store in Freeport on November 16-18, 2012, during the opening weekend of L.L. Bean’s Northern Lights Celebration.
Volunteers from Triad, Maine’s Area Agencies on Aging (AAA)and local communities will staff a coats for Maine Sseniors collection table in the lobby of L.L.Bean to accept clean gently worn adult winter coats, which then will be distributed to seniors in need through the AAAs and other community agencies. In addition to providing support for the coat collection, L.L.Bean will also donate $5 for each coat received to Maine Association of Area Agencies on Aging to provide emergency heating assistance to low income seniors.
“Over the past four years, local businesses, community groups, congregations and concerned individuals all over mid-coast and southern Maine have collected thousands of warm winter coats for Maine seniors that have helped make the winter season a bit warmer and brighter for a senior in need,” said Connie Lewis Hooker, co-chair of Merrymeeting Bay Triad. “Coats For Seniors” is a great excuse to check out L.L.Bean’s Northern Lights Celebration in Freeport! However, if you cannot make it to Freeport during the Coats for Seniors Collection, several satellite collection spots have been established for those interested in donating a coat,” she added.
Lewis-Hooker advised checking the Maine Association of Area Agencies on Aging website for a list of satellite collection sites for the Coats for Seniors program.
Coats for Seniors Requires Dedicated Volunteers
“We couldn’t pull off this wonderful event if it weren’t for the many dedicated volunteers collecting, transporting and distributing coats, or other partners including Pratt-Abbott Cleaners and Goodwill Industries,” added this year’s volunteer coordinator Michele Walters of Bath. Goodwill Industries is working with several AAAs to provide vouchers for the purchase of a winter coat from a Goodwill Retail Store where storage of the coats is not practical. Coats are expected to be available to seniors in need starting on November 19th.
Jessica Maurer, Executive Director of the Maine Association of Area Agencies on Aging emphasized the need for donations. “Unfortunately there are too many older Mainers living on fixed incomes who are struggling every day to buy food, heat their homes and pay for prescription drugs. They simply don’t have money to buy extras, including adequate winter coats. This program makes an immediate positive improvement in the lives of hundreds of our elders each year and the funds donated by L.L.Bean will keep providing help throughout the winter.”
Merrymeeting Bay Triad is an all-volunteer organization that brings together senior citizens, law enforcement and community service agencies to promote senior safety and to reduce the fear of crime and isolation that seniors often experience. To learn more about Merrymeeting Bay Triad, visit their website.
The Maine Association of Area Agencies on Aging provides a unifying voice for Maine’s five Area Agencies on Aging on issues that promote independence, health and economic self-reliance for Maine’s disabled and aging adults.