OTTAWA – The Snowsuit Fund has thrown open its doors for the 35th winter of providing children from low-income families with new winter outerwear.

The first snowsuit was handed out at a noon-hour event at the Snowsuit Fund’s depot in Overbrook. Over the course of this fall and winter, the Ottawa-based charity will give brand-new snowsuits to about 16,000 whose families might not otherwise be able to afford one.

“Used (snowsuits) can sometimes lose their warmth, and they don’t look as good,” explained Taryn Gunnlaugson, chair of the Snowsuit Fund’s board. She says new snowsuits, as opposed to used ones, can help children from low-income families feel less different.

“You know they’re going to school proud and feeling and looking just like everybody else,” Gunnlaugson told 1310 NEWS.

Funds to purchase the snowsuits come from Canadian Tire, Tim Hortons’ Smile Cookie campaign, and the upcoming Rogers Radio Snow Suit Fund Radiothon. The Radiothon will happen at 2001 Thurston Dr. on December 7, 2016.

You can also click here to make an online donation.