People new to Minnesota don’t always realize just how cold it can get.

Saturday, November 11, 2000

People new to Minnesota don’t always realize just how cold it can get.

For that reason, and because she’s already spotted several women and children going without a coat in the recent 30-degree temperatures, Liliana Silvestry will have used coats and winter accessories available free at the Welcome Center. Thanks to the generous employees of the Austin Medical Center, she already has 150 coats and 110 hats, mittens, gloves or boots of all sizes on hand.

"Don Brezicka asked me, I think jokingly, what was next on the agenda now that we got the Welcome Center up and running," the Welcome Center director said. "I said a coat drive.

"He loved the idea and took the initiative with the medical center and look," she said, gesturing at the four rolling crates full of winter wear. "They did a wonderful job."

The AMC coat drive was organized by the medical center’s Community Involvement Committee, but all employees were encouraged to participate. One committee member, Mike Gosha, was pleased but not surprised by the excellent response.

"Our employees care," he said.

"It’s great to see the employees support the community," another committee member, Diane Ingvaldson said.

Silvestry echoed those sentiments.

"We take the cold and things for granted," she said, "but we need to educate the people new to our community. This is a way for the community at large to get involved and make sure their new neighbors and those who come here are protected."

Bonnie Tangren, who chairs the Welcome Center Board, also thought having the winter garb available might be another way to make sure newcomers find the Welcome Center and learn what there is on offer.

"Perhaps this will also be a way for newcomers to get acquainted with the Welcome Center," she said. "Maybe people will come here to find something that helps them and then we can help refer and connect them to other resources."

Although the Welcome Center is still very new to Austin, Silvestry and Tangren agreed that all is going very well so far. The community’s response has been excellent, and the atmosphere in the three rooms of the Welcome Center is exactly that – welcoming.

Silvestry stressed that the Welcome Center is for all newcomers, not only those who need winter coats, as well as for already established residents who have questions or needs that Silvestry or the Welcome Center might be able to answer.

"Ideally people will come here, get help, become a part of the community and move on," Silvestry said. "Then other new people will move in, so we expect the people using the center to constantly change. It’s also a place where people who already live here can come – maybe they have some concerns about their new neighbors. We have to remember that this is a transition for both the community and the new people coming in. Education of both sides is key."

Silvestry said volunteers are also welcome.

"We need people to work with the school system, in childcare, with the different non-profit organizations and the United Way," she said. "The response so far has been great, but we can always use more people."