The library is collecting winter essentials this month for Bethany for Children and Families, Christian Care, King's Harvest Ministries, and Moline High School. Librarian Lora Wegener started the drive this year.
"My original idea for this came from my desire to collect things for winter," she said. "So I think it would be great to see a whole huge collection of coats and scarves and hats and mittens and warm socks."
She hopes to collect for more local organizations in the future.
"I want to do it annually, so if anyone else would like to be on the list of places that we're collecting for, you know, we're focusing on Quad City places, but I would really love to cast the net wide so we could be helping as many people as we can."
Wegener says efforts like this are important, especially for people without housing.
"I think homelessness is a bigger problem in the Quad Cities than a lot of people are maybe aware of, maybe it's more visible in certain neighborhoods, or parts of town, but I think it's everywhere," she said. "Just because you can't see it doesn't mean it's not there."
The most needed items are winter clothes, toiletries, and household supplies. Other items requested by the shelters include winter boots, large white t-shirts, mens jeans, school supplies, and diapers. Clothing can be gently used, while hygiene products should be unopened.
The library, on 41st Street in Moline, will accept donations everyday during its normal hours until the end of October.
