ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — As the temperature goes down, the demand is going up at St. Vincent de Paul thrift store for everything that keeps you warm. 

“Blankets, rain gear, jackets, warm weather clothes,” said development director Merrell Dickey. “Anything you can think of, hats, skull caps. We serve people who walk in all day long.” 

He says already they’re finding it hard to keep up with demand. 

“Believe it or not, we were out of blankets Monday night and we put something on our website that we had a call to arms for blankets and people brought them. It’s great.”

Dickey said it’s vital to their supply because a lot of what they have will go to the St. Vincent de Paul Care Center, where supplies are limited. 

“We’re pretty stocked with the essentials,” said chief of staff Mark Cooper. “But with the cold weather coming, we’ll deplete this pretty quickly. We always need coats. We always need blankets, socks.”  

They have about 40 blankets left at the shelter to give out right now, but Dickey said this is the moment when having faith makes all the difference. 

“I fill like we’re gonna be able to fulfill the need,” he said, “It always works out.”

For more resources and information on how to donate, head to the St. Vincent de Paul website.