© 2024 WFSU Public Media
WFSU News · Tallahassee · Panama City · Thomasville
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Bus With Less 'Brrr': 'Cover Me' Project Brings Hats And Gloves To Downtown Tallahassee

Jessica Palombo
/
WFSU News

People waiting to ride buses in Tallahassee Friday morning got a surprise to help take the edge off the cold weather. City workers handed out gloves, hats, donuts and coffee to bus riders and the homeless.

At 7 a.m. Friday, it was COLD in Tallahassee.

WTSP Meteorologist Bobby Deskins gave this forecast: “It’s breezy out there, and it’s going to make it feel more like the 20's as you step outside.”

He wasn’t kidding.

At Star Metro’s C.K. Steele Plaza downtown, a table greeted people shuffling up with hands in their pockets. A banner in front read “Spreading Warmth and Sweet Smiles in the Plaza.”

City workers asked, “Would you like a hat? Would you like a pair of gloves?”

The aptly named Sandra Smiley is a StarMetro administrative specialist. She says the city encourages employees to come up with community service projects, and she thought of collecting and distributing winter accessories.

“And because I had that network with the other administrative professionals with the city of Tallahassee, it was a good thing because I could just contact them because they’re really the root and the backbone of the city employees. And that way I could get the information out there," she said.

She says city workers will continue collecting hats and gloves through mid-February and take them to area homeless shelters. Several bags full were distributed at the Star Metro plaza Friday.

April Graham was among the people who took a pair of gloves. She says when she saw the table it helped take the nip out of the 20-degree wind chill.

“Warm…it’s gonna be warm today," she said.

Smiley says StarMetro is considering a repeat of what she calls the Cover Me project next year. But in less than a week, they’re kicking off a canned-food drive they call Caring in Motion. From January 30 to February 15, bus riders who bring three canned items ride free all day.