In Canada, more than 80 people die each year from over-exposure to the cold. On November 22, 2008, The Salvation Army and Taxi Canada, a national advertising firm, will launch the “15 Below” project that will protect the homeless from the risks of frostbite and hypothermia this winter.

To commemorate its 15th anniversary, Taxi Canada has worked with clothing designers to develop a jacket specifically designed to protect the homeless in cold weather. Taxi has donated 3,000 coats to The Salvation Army and The Salvation Army will distribute them in four major cities across Canada.

Furthermore, from November 15-30, Fifteen Below jackets will be auctioned on E-Bay and all proceeds will go to the Project. Each jacket, along with donated memorabilia, will be signed by socially aware personalities such as R.E.M., Kid Rock, Kids in the Hall, Robert Plant and Nelly Furtado.

The 15 Below jacket is a low-cost, high-concept, solution to help the homeless survive the winter. It features multiple pockets throughout the lining where newsprint, one of the most effective insulators, can be simply scrunched and stuffed into. When not being worn, the jacket can be folded into a backpack for easy transportation or used as a pillow. For more information about the project and the jacket visit www.15belowproject.org.

There are an estimated 300,000 homeless people living in Canada. When a cold alert, a short-term emergency response issued when temperatures reach -15C, is issued, not everyone can get off the streets. This jacket could save lives.