MARQUETTE — Project Keep Kids Warm is kicking off its 12th annual season looking for community donations of new winter clothing and financial contributions to help clothe the youth of western Marquette County this winter.

Project Keep Kids Warm, a clothing drive sponsored by Wesley United Methodist Church of Ishpeming, will be collecting and distributing winter clothing. Organizers will maintain COVID-conscious practices for the second year in a row.

Volunteers will not be going door-to-door to collect donations and the free shopping day will be postponed, both parts of the project every year from 2010-19. Instead, coordinators have evolved the project to pick-up and drop-off sites for community donations of new winter clothing such as jackets, snow pants, boots, hats and mittens.

There will be KKW drop boxes at the following locations:

Ishpeming

Wesley United Methodist Church, CrossBridge Church, Christ the King Lutheran Church, First Bank, TruNorth Credit Union.

Negaunee

Immanuel Lutheran Church, Embers Credit Union

Republic

Republic Township Hall

Organizers are asking for financial contributions as well, according to Keep Kids Warm project coordinator Dick Derby.

“One hundred percent will be used to purchase the additional winter items that we need, looking for the best sales opportunities in area stores and online,” he said.

The financial contributions help volunteers fund the clothing items or item sizes that have not been provided.

Checks should be made out to Wesley United Methodist Church, stating KKW in the note line, and mailed to P.O. Box 342, Ishpeming, MI 49849.

The project will rely on area schools to identify the kids and families in need, anonymously, and provide their winter clothing requirements. When the group receives the information from the school, volunteers will make a connection with each family to determine what items are needed and size information.

“We are determined to find creative ways to be socially responsible while at the same time ensuring that area children have the jackets, snow pants, boots, hats and mittens they will need when the snow and cold arrive,” Derby said.

Project Keep Kids Warm received a grant donation of $1,500 from the Greater Ishpeming Area Community Funds Grant Committee to start the 12th year of the project.

Katie Segula can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 242. Her email address is ksegula@miningjournal.net.