The St. Teresa of Avila Conference, St. Vincent de Paul Society is launching the fifth year of its HUGS for Homeless winter clothing drive for Carson City homeless Neighbors in Need.

We are asking for $15,000 of monetary donations from Carson City businesses and individuals during the months of October, November and December to purchase NEW winter coats, gloves, hats and socks for our adult homeless population living in their vehicles or on our streets.

HUGS for Homeless is an ongoing community effort to prevent and protect our most vulnerable citizens from cold-weather disease and illness and from cases of frost-bite and hypothermia.

We also provide NEW winter clothing to Mallory Behavioral Heath Center and Carson Tahoe Regional Hospital’s emergency room so that any homeless patients being discharged have warm and dry winter clothing on their road to healing and recovery.

Our goal, along with multiple Carson City nonprofits and social service agencies, is ZERO winter deaths among our homeless citizens due to exposure from extreme winter weather.

SW Gas Corporation Foundation is our HUGS for Homeless Campaign Leader once again with an early donation of $2500. Other early major donors include Corpus Christi Parish, Knights of Columbus Council no. 4781, the McAulay Family Charitable Fund and the Women’s Society of St. Teresa of Avila Parish.

Your generosity during our 2024-2025 HUGS for Homeless campaign raised $12,650 and allowed the St. Vincent de Paul Society to pass out 240 coats, 175 pairs of gloves, 255 hats and 480 pairs of socks.

Our local business allies who will be providing the St. Vincent de Paul Society with volume discounts for this winter season are BIG 5 Sporting Goods, Burlington, and J.C. Penney.

As a result of special pricing from these local merchants, your $100 donation will supply one winter coat, two pairs of gloves, two hats and a dozen pairs of socks that will last for five winter months.

The St. Vincent de Paul Society, St. Teresa of Avila Conference is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit so your donations to the HUGS for Homeless winter clothing drive are 100% tax deductible. Monetary donations made by check can be written out payable to “SVDPS” and then mailed to:

Saint Vincent de Paul Society                  

3000 N. Lompa Lane              

Carson City, NV 89706

Online secure donations to the St. Vincent de Paul Society in Carson City can be made to our PayPal account via this LINK: https://www.paypal.com/US/fundraiser/charity/3111692

Two frequently asked questions that we receive from HUGS for Homeless supporters are:

Why do you only purchase NEW winter clothing versus accepting used winter clothing?            

All too often, used clothing donations are not in good enough condition and suitable for wearing 12+ hours daily during extreme outdoor conditions. We buy durable, high-quality winter coats (with hoods) and ski gloves that provide water resistance and thermal protection while being able to last our entire 5-month winter season. Crew-length athletic socks and woolen winter hats complete the wardrobe. If funding allows, we purchase hand warmers. 

Why do you prefer monetary donations versus donations of NEW winter clothing?    

First, as a Nevada 501(c)(3) nonprofit business, we are exempt from state sales taxes. This results in 7.6% of savings compared to purchases from individuals for winter clothing. Second, we have negotiated volume discounts with preferred local retailers (BIG 5 Sporting Goods, Burlington and J.C. Penney) that are not available to other businesses, groups and individuals. This is a WIN-WIN for our local economy versus buying from national internet sites.

Any questions regarding HUGS for Homeless can be made at 775-882-1968 ext. 119.

Kelsey is a fourth-generation Nevadan, investigative journalist and college professor working in the Sierras. She is an advocate of high desert agriculture, rescue dogs, and analog education.