Coats on Finlay Bridge (Photo by Bob Schneider)

By Hayley Ferguson

Warm for the Winter

Finlay Bridge to be covered with donated coats

Dec 31, 2019 | 2:57 PM

Medicine Hat, AB – Finlay Bridge will be not only be lit up tonight, but it will also be covered in coats.

Hatters are being asked to hang their gently used coats at the bridge.

As well,organizer Helen Snortland is hopeful that people will also bring things such as toques and mittens.

Then people who need a coat are then welcome to take what they need for free.

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Snortland says she was inspired to start the project after seeing a post online about a similar project in Ireland.

“I made the comment ‘why could we do this in Medicine Hat? We have a beautiful bridge that’s lit up, it’s cold. Why not start this project here?’ Maybe not long-term, but at least a day or two. And friends started posting and saying ‘gee I’m in, let’s do it.’ And then it snowballed,” she smiled.

Already a number of coats have been dropped off and Snortland expects the final count to be about 200.

“It’s exciting. I’m not really surprised because Medicine Hat is that type of community. But as the shares go up it’s like ‘ok we can do this,’” she said.

The coats will be hanging throughout New Year’s Eve. Snortland says anything remaining will have to be collected, due to the snow, and then distributed around town.