Warm clothing to be collected as 麻豆精选 businesses asked to 鈥榯urn down the heat鈥�

The Downtown 麻豆精选 Association, in partnership with the Business Improvement Areas of British Columbia (BIABC) and FortisBC, will present Turn Down the Heat Week next week.

From Nov. 4 to 10 members of the public can donate gently used sweaters, hats, gloves, mitts or new socks to the 麻豆精选 Gospel Mission. Organizers say every item of warm clothing collected will stay in 麻豆精选.

There will be five drop-off locations across downtown 麻豆精选:

鈥� The Gospel Mission (251 Leon Avenue)

鈥� Roy鈥檚 Shoes (1627 Ellis Street)

鈥� Mavazi Apparel (565 Bernard Avenue)

鈥� Picture Perfect (543 Lawrence Avenue)

鈥� The Downtown 麻豆精选 Association office (287 Bernard Avenue)

In addition to warm clothing donations, businesses are also being encouraged to turn down the heat in their stores and conserve energy, while employees wear their favourite sweaters.

鈥淲e are thrilled that BIABC is working alongside FortisBC on this initiative again,鈥� said BIABC president Kendra Johnston. 鈥淏eing energy efficient is important to our members, our community and the environment. Together it鈥檚 the little things, like turning down the thermostat, that can make a huge difference.鈥�

She said her organization is also fortunate to have FortisBC support the partnership.

鈥淭hey are as committed to global stewardship as we are,鈥� added Johnston. 鈥淲hen we all work together, our efforts make a significant impact for change.鈥�

In 2016, 400 businesses representing 14 BIAs collected more than 2,500 sweaters and warm pieces of clothing to donate to families in need.

鈥淏eing aware of energy use and using it efficiently is good for business. It can reduce costs and preserve resources,鈥� said Danielle Wensink, FortisBC鈥檚 director, conservation and energy management. 鈥淭urn Down the Heat Week highlights the small changes businesses and residents can make that together have a big impact, all while supporting worthwhile community causes. It鈥檚 a win-win for everyone and we鈥檙e proud to be a part of it.鈥�

The Downtown 麻豆精选 Association will joins 17 other BIAs across the province this year during the week-long campaign.

In the first four years, the campaign has collected more than 10,000 sweaters, twice the original campaign goal, and those were donated to local charities in need. Businesses championed together to turn their thermostats down and help encourage their customers to do the same at home.

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