Meg Hibbert
Contributing writer
Winter will be a little less chilly for scores of Salem and Roanoke County residents, thanks to the efforts of the Salem Moose Lodge and Women of the Moose.
They collected 77 coats and 50 sweaters, hats, gloves, pants and hoodies so far, that will be given away at no charge through Mrs. Dorsey’s Clothes Closet. The drive will continue through Jan. 31, Salem Moose Junior Governor Butch Bryant said.
The donations were presented to Salem Area Ecumenical Ministries board members Teri Atkins and Garry Lautenschlager on Jan. 15 at the Lodge on East Main Street.
“It’s the largest coat drive we’ve ever had,” said Moose member Ann Whitenack. “A lot of the coats, sweaters, hats, gloves and scarves look brand new,” she added.
Whitenack explained Moose Lodge members donated most of the warm clothing, “and I mentioned it to everybody I ran into in the community.”
Junior Governor Butch Bryant said Moose Lodges do a lot of community service projects. For example, Salem Moose presented 96 Tommy Moose stuffed toys to the Salem Police Department, 96 to the Salem Volunteer Rescue Squad, “and probably another 96 to Salem Fire & EMS,” he said, to be given to children during emergencies.
