Local women’s group helps with winter clothing collection

By: Zac Scott

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) -- A women's group is doing its part to help individuals who may need winter clothing to make it through the cold weather.

The Beauty From Ashes Christian women's group opened a donation drive to collect hats, gloves, scarves, socks and ear muffs to keep people warm over the winter. All items are in heavy demand as the women's group prepares for the next wave of snow.

Beauty From Ashes Member and Author Cindy Weeks wanted to do everything she could to help.

Weeks said the inspiration from the drive came from a woman she met while working with the Southside Food Kitchen.

"A woman that we knew came in and she said that she was living in a tent and didn't have even a blanket or winter coat or a pair of gloves," said Weeks. "Our heart went out to her, and we did what we could to help her, but we immediately knew that there were probably a lot of other people in the St Joseph community who were in the same situation."

Weeks said donation boxes can be found at Ace Hardware, Dollar General, Hy-Vee, Samson's Thrift Store, the Belt Center and both North and South Belt Walmart's.