To help local families stay warm on snowy winter nights, St. Vincent de Paul is holding its 20th annual Recycle the Warmth drive from Jan. 27 to Jan. 29.

Organizers are looking for new or gently used blankets and bedding that can be given to Madison residents struggling with poverty.

"We'll find folks who have nothing, and sometimes nothing means no bed and it means that a child in the family has a parka to pull over themselves at night instead of a blanket," said Ernie Stetenfeld, St. Vincent de Paul’s spokesman.

Donations can be dropped off at ShopKo stores, St. Vincent de Paul thrift stores and area churches. Many church congregations are also accepting these donations.

For a complete list of drop-off sites visit:

http://www.svdpmadison.org/recyclewarmth.html

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A frightened Madison couple drove away from a drive-thru, without picking up food Wednesday night, after a stranger pointed what they believed to be a handgun at their vehicle, according to the Madison Police Department.

Police said the couple had ordered food at the Wendy's on South Gammon Road at about 11 p.m. Wednesday. They told police that the passenger from the car behind them got out of the car and started to approach their vehicle.

The couple told police that the man extended his arm and it looked like he was holding something metallic that could have been a weapon.

The woman told her husband to drive away, and they drove to the West District station and called 911 to report the incident.

The husband told officers that he believed that he would have been robbed if they didn't drive away. 

St. Vincent de Paul’s 20th annual Recycle the Warmth Blanket Drive will take place Friday through Sunday, Jan. 27 through 29. 

Recycle the Warmth is a local St. Vincent de Paul effort to gather new and gently used blankets and other bedding to be given away to Dane County neighbors in need.

WISC and TVW are media sponsors of this annual drive. 

All the bedding collected or purchased during the drive will be given away during the next 12 months to needy individuals and families that come to the Center for Vincentian Charity at 2033 Fish Hatchery Rd. and are in need of assistance from the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

Another way to help is to contribute toward the purchase of additional bedding (new sheets, pillows, and mattress covers) to meet the requests that are received. Last year, the group raised more than $5,000 from people in local church communities and from area businesses.