BY PAUL MITCHELL
North Country This Week

OGDENSBURG – The cold weather is coming and organizers of the St. Lawrence County People Project wants to have plenty of warm winter apparel available for area children.

A fundraiser is underway with a goal of $10,000 to help purchase coats, boots, hats and mittens.

“The goal we set for ourselves is $10,000 and we currently have raised just over $4,000. We are very grateful for all of the help we have received so far but we still have a long way to go” said Mary Wills, executive director of the organization.

Wills also expressed her appreciation to SUNY Canton for their contribution to the People Project fundraiser.

“They generously donated $1000 which will help us keep 20 children warm this winter,” she noted.

Winters in the North Country are long and cold, and families are faced with increased electric and heat bills.

For the past few years, the nonprofit has been providing coats to area school districts to distribute to students in need, and the feedback has been that more help is needed, Wills explained.

“This year they have decided to do an organized fundraiser, hoping to keep hundreds of children warm this winter. For every $50 raised, a child will be provided a brand-new coat, boots, hat and mittens,” she said.

Donations can be made by Paypal at: https//www.paypal.me/slcpp or by check. Checks can be mailed to St. Lawrence County People Project, PO Box 763, 431 State St. Ogdensburg, NY 13669.

The People Project is a non-profit organization and a registered 501 (c)(3). The mission of the organization is to strengthen education, along with health and wellness and the economy in St. Lawrence County, and advance its residents by coordinating community initiatives, activities, and resources for all.

The People Project is a growing coalition of educators, parents, community members, employers and government leaders, the website states.

Joining Wills on the People Project board are Leigh Rodriguez, president and co-chair representing the Town and Village of Canton; Lenore VanderZee, vice president from SUNY Canton; Jerome James, treasurer, St. Lawrence County Health Initiative; Michael Wills, retired secretary, Morristown Central School District; Anne Marie Snell, St. Lawrence County Health Initiative, Ray Babowicz, Community Health of the North Country, Cassandra “Casey” Caswell, Cornell Cooperative Extension, and Jennifer Hotaling, Edwards-Knox Central School District, all board members.