WEST HANTS, N.S. — Mink farmers from across the province are pleased with the result of the inaugural Nova Scotia Mink Farmers for Warmth campaign.
More than 500 items of winter clothing were collected and distributed throughout Hants County and the Digby to Yarmouth region.
“It did better than we expected,” said Brian Huntley, of Burlington Fur Farm in Hants County. He set a goal of collecting 200 coats.
In the end, more than 400 coats were collected, plus another hundred or so winter items like boots, mittens, scarves, and hats.
Huntley spearheaded the Nova Scotia Mink Farmers for Warmth campaign through the Nova Scotia Mink Farmers Association.
When the campaign launched in the fall, Huntley said it was a way for the mink farmers to give back to the communities in which they operate.
After a heart-warming response from the public, Huntley said they're planning to keep the fundraiser going.
“We're definitely looking forward to keeping the ball rolling,” said Huntley.
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Did you know?
About half of Canada’s mink pelts come from Nova Scotia and there are more than 100 licensed mink farmers in Nova Scotia.
“The actual drive itself is over but if people have coats or anything (wintry) for that matter, we'll still pick them up and hang onto them,” said Huntley.
“I think we're going to run a drive in May, just after winter, so parents who have small children that are outgrowing things that are still good quality, we'd like to pick them up so they don't have to hang onto them all year. And then we'll do another one in the fall,” he added.
Huntley said he still has a small amount of adult-size coats available and will distribute them if he is alerted to a need in the local area.
While the campaign attracted some negative attention online due to animal rights activists taking issue with the fur industry, Huntley said people in the community still stepped up to help the cause.
“I don't kick anybody for their beliefs or their habits and I certainly don't go around and try to stop them from doing good for other people in their world,” Huntley said.
“We've had people who don't like the industry but they fully supported what we did,” he said, adding the few negative comments had little impact on the positivity of the overall campaign.
To learn more about the initiative or to donate items, touch base with the Nova Scotia Mink Breeders Association by visiting the Facebook page Nova Scotia Mink Farmers for Warmth
or by visiting the website at https://nsmink.ca.
