An annual drive to help those less fortunate returns this weekend, hosted by a former Windsor radio personality.
Greg Gnyp has announced the return of the Gnyp Merry Mittens drive, to be held Sunday, January 21, at the Erie Street GastroPub in Windsor.
Gnyp told WindsorNewsToday.ca it's a cause that is dear to his heart.
"It's a charity event that I've held before," said Gnyp. "What I'm doing is collecting mittens, gloves, hats, socks, toiletries, cash, and I make those donations to the Windsor Street Help at the end of it."
The last Merry Mittens event took place before the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted things.
"The last one we did was in 2019," said Gnyp. "We filled up three minivans with all the different things we collected. We held it at a different location the first couple of years, but it's fun, you know?"
Gnyp said he always had a soft spot for the area's homeless, and he was inspired to start the mitten drive after an encounter with someone in the downtown core.
"I went for coffee, I hung out with my friend," said Gnyp. "I walked past, I looked at him, he was still there, and something just clicked in my head. I just walked back to the coffee shop, got a coffee and a donut-type bun, went back out, and gave him the coffee."
Merry Mittens takes place all day Sunday, beginning at 1130 a.m. at Erie Street GastroPub, 839 Erie Street East. Entertainment and door prizes are scheduled during the event.
Complete information on Merry Mittens can be found on the event's Facebook page.
