The Salvation Army and the Quebec government say there is an urgent need for donations of winter clothing to help asylum seekers who are not equipped for winter in Quebec.
PRAIDA, a government organization that helps refugees, asked the Salvation Army to collect clothes for people who have recently crossed into Quebec.
“The thing that’s needed most is winter coats,” said Salvation Army spokesman Bryan Hayward. “A small coat won’t do in our -40 C weather.”
He said the greatest need is coats for men, though they’re also needed for women and children.
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They also need hats, gloves, scarves and other winter wear.
Things have quieted down at the border since last summer, when in August alone, more than 5,000 people came to Quebec from the United States.
READ MORE: Over 5,500 asylum seekers crossed Quebec border illegally in August
About 1,500 people came over in November, according to the latest numbers.
Most of the claimants last year were Haitian, and recently the majority have been Nigerian.
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“These are people coming from a country that’s been torn apart by civil war, and they’re coming from the United States into Canada. You can speculate as to whether they feel comfortable staying in the United States,” Hayward said.
People can bring any donations to one of the Salvation Army thrift stores around Montreal.