The cold and snowy fall weather isn't just uncomfortable, it means Windsor-Essex organizations that keep people warm are already seeing an increase in demand.

The good news is the community is stepping up.

"We have a lot more people coming in,” says Street Help administrator Christine Wilson-Furlonger. “We're also seeing people stay a lot longer."

Street Help usually puts a call out for sleeping bags around this time of the year, but Wilson-Furlonger says the organization is expecting a big donation soon.

“He told me he's in access of 350 already," she says.

The organization can focus on other needs like winter coats and boots. Wilson-Furlonger says they are getting a high demand for boots.

Debbie Desjardins from the Unemployed Help Centre shares a letter written by young boy, whose mom got him a coat through the coats for kids program.

"To see this from a 12 year-old, honestly that's what keeps us all ticking here," says Desjardins.

The Unemployed Help Centre's Coats for Kids program was in dire need this past weekend. It had to cancel a distribution event after already giving out 6,000 coats.

"We went from fairly nice weather to cold so fast that I think families scrambled to get in here," says Desjardins.

But they say since the weekend the community has stepped up in a big way.

“I'd say we got like a thousand coats or more," she says.

Still the program would like to see more coats come in, as they expect to continue to hand them out.