Blankets offer warmth for those in need in the South West

A South West organisation has called for donations of good quality warm coats and blankets to support those in need.

JSW Training and Community Services is collecting warm blankets and coats to distribute to families and young people as the weather cools.

Centre youth worker Kelly Braeckmans started the drive after a stressed mother needing blankets for her children reached out.

Second hand stores are shut so there’s no other services available — it’s pretty scary times.

Ms Braeckmans has helped students at Bunbury Regional Community College after many told her they lacked warm bedding.

Senior social worker Kelly Zabaznow said they had offices throughout the South West and Peel regions so they could organise to help people in several areas.

If someone was interested in donating, Ms Breackmans encouraged them to reach out to the Bunbury office and she could arrange a pickup or drop off point in Bunbury or Busselton.

Ms Braeckmans said they were being cautious with donations and wanted good quality items, dry goods and hygiene products.

I don’t want to be handing on damaged, old stuff to people who genuinely need it.

“We’ve just been donated 200 bottles of hand sanitiser from Rio Tinto, so they’ve helped out,” Ms Braeckmans

“When we come together, we can do great things to help people in need, and the work of JSW Training and Community Services reflects this,” Rio Tinto superintendent regional communities Justin Francesconi said.