Sea Mar holding clothing, blanket drive

Sea Mar Behavioral Health Center kicked off a clothing and blanket drive on Sept. 5. Donation boxes will be located at the Sea Mar office in Oak Harbor, Thrive Community Fitness, 3 Sisters Market and the Skagit Valley College Whidbey Island Campus.

The health center is seeking new or gently used clothing and blankets until Nov. 27.

Emmanuel Montenegro, a program manager at Sea Mar, said they chose to do this type of drive because he heard a harsh winter is predicted. Last year the center held a book drive and the year before a food and pantry drive.

Sea Mar provides mental health and chemical dependency services to adults, youth and children.

Between Nov. 27 and Dec. 1, clients of Sea Mar, many of whom are homeless, will be able to pick up whatever they need from the donations, said Christin McCausland, who is coordinating the drive.

Any leftover items from the drive will be donated to Island Thrift or WAIF Thrift Store, said Montenegro. He said when the group ran this same type of drive three years ago, there was nothing left.

Sea Mar supports about 100 clients with social services such as group and family therapy, drug and alcohol evaluations and DUI assessments.

The center is part of Sea Mar Community Health Centers, which specializes in serving Latinos around the state.