WESTFIELD—If you’re ever walking down Elm Street, you might notice a collection of coats outside of the Mama Cakes bakery.
That’s because the owner, Kimberly McNutt, wants to provide warmth for those who may need it in the winter months. The bakery, for the third year in a row, is now offering coats, hats, blankets and other items to those out and about to make sure those who need the warmth this season can get at least some.
“We know there’s a need for people to get warm,” McNutt said.
“It’s sad and people don’t realize how many suffer,” she said.
Coats and other items outside of Mama Cakes
McNutt started providing the items outside of her store for free three years ago. It started off modestly enough, according to McNutt, and by the second year she said that it was advertised on Facebook. More people came and donated and she estimates that at least 400 total jackets and hats had come and gone from the spot.
In addition, McNutt said a woman had knitted about 100 hats for those in need and provided them at Mama Cakes.
“We put stuff out today and it will be gone by tomorrow,” she said.
McNutt said that the reason why she provides the jackets and other items is due to her own personal story of need. She said that after the tragic Sept. 11 attacks occurred, her husband had lost his job in the air industry and monetary struggles had occurred.
It was coming to winter, and McNutt said she needed to provide jackets for her two daughters, but with limited money she found it difficult.
“I had $40 for jackets for two kids. I went store to store and couldn’t find good jackets,” she said.
While leaving one store, McNutt said a woman approached her.
“I left a store and a woman basically said, ‘these girls need jackets’,” McNutt said.
McNutt started crying but the woman just sneered at her. McNutt said that she swore to never let that happen again, and so once they were able to the family donated their own jackets. And eventually, Mama Cakes started providing jackets for others, too.
