With some indications of a rough winter ahead, the second annual Give Frostbite the Boot drive is starting early this year, according to Robyn Czyz, donations coordinator for Hope COS, a homeless outreach and assistance organization.

The 2024 Old Farmer’s Almanac is predicting the region of the country that includes Colorado Springs will experience colder-than-normal temperatures, particularly in early and mid-January and early and early and late February.

The publication that dates to an initial launch in 1792 also forecasts above-normal snowfall for the area, especially in mid-November, mid- and late January, and late February.

So local outreach workers who help people who live on the streets or in emergency shelters are gearing up with another winter boot drive.

From now through Dec. 20, Hope COS will accept donations of new and used-but-usable winter boots in all men’s and women’s sizes at its two locations: the center at 5440 N. Union Blvd., and a new sober-living facility at 1647 S. Nevada Ave.

Winter coats, socks and hand warmers also are being requested from benevolent residents to benefit the homeless population.

For the third year, Hope COS will provide transportation to its pop-up warming shelters for homeless people on nights when temperatures dip below 20 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the organization.

Sturdy, warm boots keep frostbite at bay, Czyz said, a common problem among people who live outside in the elements in cold weather.

“They need to have proper foot cover; we’ve known people that have lost their toes, their entire feet or lower limbs because they didn’t have proper protection,” she said. “Frostbite can set in at any time, and it’s a painful ordeal for folks to go through.”

Last year’s drive lasted for just one week in December and netted about 220 pairs of boots, Czyz said. With this year’s event stretching over three months, the organization hopes to get enough contributions to last throughout the year.

Hope COS again will share the bounty with other organizations and agencies that also do street outreach — meaning workers walk around town to find people camping or otherwise living outside or in their cars, check on them and direct them or take them to overnight shelter accommodations, or programs such as addiction recovery. They also hand out items such as cold-weather gear.

Homeward Pikes Peak, The Place, a shelter for youths, and the city’s police and fire departments’ outreach teams received boot donations from the drive last year. Szyz said the drive will benefit the same groups this year.

“All of the community’s street outreach teams were carrying boots in the back of their vehicles, so we had boots to pass out to anybody who needed a pair,” she said.

It was a popular feature — the inventory quickly was depleted, she said.

“We went through every single pair of boots last year and have none left,” Czyz said. “We thought we’d get started early so we could collect as many as possible.”

For more information, email Czyz at Robyn@hopecos.org.