SACO — The Saco Police Department has partnered with two community service projects this winter — Socks for Seniors and Warm Hands, Warm Hearts — to collect warm clothing for local seniors, veterans, children and adults in Saco and neighboring communities.

Socks for Seniors is a national nonprofit organization that collects and distributes new socks for seniors in communities all over the country. The Socks for Seniors program benefits those living alone and in nursing homes, as well as seniors who are homeless.
 
Socks for Seniors has collection boxes located at the Saco Police Department at 20 Storer St., Saco City Hall at 300 Main St. and the Saco Community Center at 75 Franklin St. 

The Police Department will distribute collected items to the Maine Veterans Home, local nursing homes and elderly housing facilities, as well as support homes for homeless seniors and veterans. 
 
“We are excited to sponsor Socks for Seniors again this year. We had an overwhelming response last year and the recipients were thrilled and very thankful,” said Saco Police Department’s Administrative Secretary Lori Angis. “Seeing the smiles on the faces of the recipients is incredibly rewarding and now they look forward to our yearly visit.”

Angis said the Police Department would like to help even more community members this winter. This year the department is also partnering with Warm Hands, Warm Hearts.
 
Warm Hands, Warm Hearts, is collecting new winter hats, gloves, mittens, scarves, and socks. Warm Hands, Warm Hearts will be distributing collected items to Caring Unlimited, the Seeds of Hope Neighborhood Center, Saco schools and the Saco Police Department to provide the items for people in need.

Warm Hands, Warm Hearts has several collection boxes in Saco: Saco Bay Variety at 216 Beach St., CIA Café at 9 Beach St., Saco City Hall, the Saco Police Department and the Saco Community Center. Items also can be dropped off before or after Sunday church services at Union Church in Biddeford, as well as at the Biddeford Pool Community Center.
 
According to the Center for American Progress, a public policy research group, more than 170,000 Mainers, and 16 percent of Maine children, are living in poverty.
 
“We’re hoping to offer a helping hand to our friends and neighbors this winter,” said Sharon Gaudin, a resident of Saco and Warm Hands, Warm Hearts organizer. “A new pair of mittens or a hat may not seem like a lot but it could mean a great deal to someone who would be cold without them this winter.”
  
The first collection deadline will be Dec. 20 to deliver the items before Christmas. However, the collection drive will continue throughout the winter.
 
For more information about these initiatives go to www.sacomaine.org.