From the City of Cambridge and Caspar, Nov. 9, 2015:  The City of Cambridge is helping Caspar by serving as a drop-off location for gently used winter coats. The coat drive is planned for Nov. 16-20 at City Hall, 795 Massachusetts Ave., Central Square. The agency is especially seeking women’s L and XL sizes and men’s L, XL and XXL sizes.

Caspar has been serving the community since 1970. It has grown from a halfway house for men and a shelter for homeless men and women to a multi-service agency offering intervention and prevention services that provide access to people wherever they are on the substance use, abuse and recovery continuum.

Caspar’s primary goal is to save lives by connecting homeless people with services they need to make recovery and an end to homelessness possible. Its Street Outreach Van begins the process by building relationships and providing food, hygiene supplies, clothing and other necessities. It also works to move homeless people into a shelter where they can get referrals for medical and mental health care, counseling, employment and housing. Once the clients are sheltered, the secondary goal is to move them into one of six residential recovery homes where they can safely begin developing independent living skills again. For information, visit casparinc.org.