5TH ANNUAL ‘BUNDLE UP BALTIMORE’, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TODAY’S 101.9 AND ZIPS DRY CLEANERS
5TH ANNUAL ‘BUNDLE UP BALTIMORE’, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TODAY’S 101.9 AND ZIPS DRY CLEANERS, VOWED TO INCREASE COAT DONATIONS TO COVER GROWING HOMELESSNESS IN CENTRAL MARYLAND
Baltimore, Maryland- On Saturday January 14, 2023, The Salvation Army of Central Maryland, in partnership with Today’s 101.9 radio station, and ZIPS drycleaning collected coats, jackets, and blankets for Baltimore’s most vulnerable residents battling homelessness and unemployment at ZIPS drycleaning located at Perry Hall: 4229 Ebenezer Rd, Nottingham, MD 21236 & at Annapolis: 1955 West Street, Annapolis from 10 am to 2 p.m.
As the Baltimore region prepares for fierce cold temperatures this weekend, The Salvation Army vows to keep people warm. In 2022, ‘Bundle up Baltimore’ The Salvation Army collected 1,200 coats and blankets despite inclement conditions. In 2020, ‘Bundle up Baltimore’ was cancelled due to unforeseen weather conditions and the COVID-19 pandemic. And in 2019, The Salvation Army only collected 936 coats and 460 blankets, which were distributed to our homeless through our emergency canteen program, Feedmore. Our mobile feeding program ensures impoverished men, women, and children are given toiletries, coats, and a warm meal, six nights a week. Overall, the Feedmore program serves around 250 individuals each night.
This year, The Salvation Army vows to double in outerwear donations despite weather conditions or even COVID variant issues, such as Omicron, which have resulted in less foot traffic to clothing drive donation spots. One coat donation means Winter survival for one person. Whether it’s a man, woman, or a child.
For more information on an increase in homelessness in the nation, click here:
For more information on Homelessness in Baltimore City, click here.
“We pray this year’s ‘Bundle Up Baltimore’ winter clothing drive will accrue even more coats, jackets, blankets, and winterwear. Central Maryland is seeing an uptick of homelessness and less resources for our most vulnerable. Although we are fortunate that last year’s coat drive saw an increase in donations, we worry we won’t have enough to fill a bigger need due to inflation, rising costs, and a growing homeless population that also includes women, children, and the elderly. We want to give love beyond winter coats to everyone in need. Our Baltimore residents are in great need.”-Major Roger Glick, Commander of Salvation Army of Central Maryland.
The Salvation Army, in partnership with Today’s 101.9, partnered with ZIPS drycleaning this year to expand coat donation reach. 18 Zips locations located in Baltimore, Bowie, Laurel, Arundel, Glen Burnie, Ellicott City, Essex, Bel Air, Scaggsville, Columbia, Towson, and Pikesville had coat donation boxes for people who want to donate gently used winterwear.
IF YOU MISSED THIS YEAR’S COAT DRIVE, YOU CAN STILL SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY’S MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS BY DONATING!