Winter jackets on a hanger in the store. Photo Credit: https://www.dreamstime.com/

By Shaun Penner

For the People

Local couple, friends team up to help the homeless with coat drive

Jan 26, 2020 | 6:47 AM

A local couple has banded together with their friends in an effort to help the homeless in Grande Prairie.

Melanie Drisdelle and her partner Colby Wagner, along with many of their pals, have started For the People From the People, whose goal is to offer support to the homeless community wherever they can.

Both Drisdelle and Wagner work in the oil and gas industry and started their new charitable group simply because they wanted to find a way to give back to those in need.

“I guess we kind of all see ourselves in them to,” said Drisdelle. “Something (like that) could happen to us. You never know.”

Drisdelle, Wagner and their mix of their friends have since being doing what they can to help since December. One initiative they undertook was a winter coat drive back on January 19. Due to a lack of exposure, and being so busy with work, finding the time to promote the drive was somewhat of a challenge.

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“Nobody really brought any coats at all,” said Drisdelle. “There was one lady who brought three bags of coats, which was wonderful.”

With that, they are hoping the community can come through with more donations on February 2, as the group will be hosting another coat drive from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. that day.

The drive will be happening at 10517 101 Avenue. If you can’t make it down there during that time but would still like to donate items such as coats, boots, blankets and the like, Drisdelle says they are always willing to find ways to collect.

“Just reach out to me, either online or on my phone,” said Drisdelle. “We have Instagram, we have a Facebook profile and I have an email.”

“Anything helps.”

For the People From the People can be reached at 780-512-3700. The email address is forthepeoplegp@outlook.com.