Over 30,000 students attend the University of Manitoba, including a number of international students, who have never experienced a Winnipeg winter.

This can be a problem, as many only come with a hoodie and shoes. Plus, many of these students have already spent a significant amount of money to come and may not have any left to buy warm clothing.

Tammy Junghans is the director of Segue, a group dedicated to helping students on their spiritual journey in the midst of school life. Segue is putting on a winter clothing drive to gather new or lightly used jackets for students who cannot afford them.

"We see a lot of students coming to Canada and they are ill-equipped," said Junghans. "Many are coming and struggling to pay for food so the extra's like winter clothing are really hard to buy."

The winter clothing drive runs until October 25. After that, Segue is putting on an informational event and free store that will help educate students on how to dress for winter, what to eat, and how to avoid the winter blues.

"We're going to talk to them about how to survive a Winnipeg winter," said Junghans. "We have a personal shopper with them to get them the right sizes and figure out what they need.

"When you haven't experienced a Winnipeg winter, there are just things you don't know, there is no frame of reference [for them] coming from a warm climate."

Allison Kilgour is the University of Manitoba Students' Union Vice-President of Advocacy and she says students from Canada aren't even prepared for winter, but it's even worse for those who have never experienced a -40°C windchill.

"It can be a real shock to come from a place with a mild winter," Kilgour said. "A lot of the clothing can be really expensive too.

"It's really critical that they aren't getting frostbite waiting for the bus."

Junghans said that there are a number of students, more than you may think, that use food banks and thrift stores to make ends meet.

"They don't have the money," she said. "[Many are] coming from other nations and they don't have their family around."

Often, the students will pass their winter clothing back to Segue or to shelters in the city once they are done with them.

You can drop off your new and gently used winter outerwear, including winter coats, mittens, gloves, hats, and boots, at University Centre. Donations are being accepted until October 25.

You can also drop off your clothing at 590 University Crescent, which is shared by Prairie Presbyterian Church and Converge Community Church. Donation times are Saturday, October 21 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on October 23 and 25 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. AND 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.