WINTER COULD BE HARSH FOR NEEDY, SAY OFFICIALS

For the elderly and working poor, last week's temperatures served as a cold reminder that the "real" winter months are still ahead.

Many have already called on area social service agencies for blankets, clothes, food and help with heating their homes.

"We've had more calls (for assistance) than we've ever had," said Linda Kester, who for five years has organized a twice-yearly food and clothing drive for the needy at the New Life World Outreach Center in Cape Girardeau.

Kester said though the fall drive won't be held until Nov. 22, people have been calling already to request clothes, blankets and food.

"It just seems a lot harder" to make ends meet, she said. "Even for the people who are working. The price of everything goes up and they're still making minimum wage."

Many of the needy are single working mothers, Kester said. "They're trying to feed children, and now, they have to scramble for warm clothes."

Last year, the fall drive helped 2,000 people. Kester said she expects more this year.

January-like weather last week prompted the Salvation Army to begin giving out blankets early this year, said Capt. Elmer Trapp.

"It's not been a big rush, but we've had people coming in," he said. "Usually it's the end of November before you get the really hard cold."

Salvation Army social worker Jackie Theike said people are also requesting warm clothes and food.

"It was this way last year, but it's happening earlier this year," Theike said.

Shirley Ramsey with the Area Agency on Aging, said weatherization programs are available for the elderly, and in some cases, so are hot, home-delivered meals. But people need to call the agency for referral to these services, she said.

"We need to know if there is a person home alone who needs somebody to check on them, or if they are cold," Ramsey said.

"They may be eligible for low-income housing or they may be able to move into a senior housing, which would be warm."

Ramsey said senior nutrition centers in Cape Girardeau and Jackson are open during the day and can offer hot meals and companionship. But, she added, "I think older people are less apt to get out when the weather is cold; and I don't blame them."

Trapp, with the Salvation Army, said he expects calls for assistance with heating bills will begin coming in after the first of the month, when many bills become due. He said the center needs more blankets and warm clothes to provide to needy families.

"We'll continue to give these away until the cold weather breaks; usually February or March," he said.

Kester, with the outreach center, said many families were unprepared for the sudden cold.

"Parents thought they had a few more weeks to gather coats and warm clothes," she said. "I think we have a lot of little kids out there who are cold."

Most of the canned food and clothing for the Nov. 22 drive are donated by church members and local businesses, Kester said. Coats are especially needed this year, along with warm children's clothes.

A local women's organization is making hundreds of home-sewn sweatshirts for the drive, Kester said, and it's hoped there will be enough for each child to have one. Many items "come pouring in" during the week before the drive, she said.

The church purchases perishable food to hand out on the day of the drive.

Each family receives about a week's worth of groceries, including some extra items like chicken, sweet potatoes and dressing.

"For a lot of them," she said, "this is Thanksgiving dinner."

For more information about the drive, call the outreach center at 334-7726. Anyone wishing to received items the day of the drive must call to register.