GREENFIELD — In an effort to keep the homeless warm as temperatures drop this season, Heather Perna, a nurse with RegalCare at Greenfield, is collecting sleeping bags to distribute in advance of Thanksgiving.

Perna has partnered with Pastor Floyd Williams, Larry Thomas of the Wildflower Alliance in Greenfield, Doug’s Auto Body in Gill, CopyCat Print Shop in Greenfield and WHAI/Bear Country radio to support her goal of collecting and distributing at least 50 sleeping bags by the holiday. Williams and Thomas will help get the sleeping bags to homeless community members.

“It’s starting to come together. It really takes a whole village to do this,” she said. “It takes so many people to provide the sleeping bags and it’s just a tremendous way to give back before Thanksgiving.”

Perna said the 2022 film “5,000 Blankets,” about a woman who distributes blankets to the homeless in Fort Worth, Texas, after her husband becomes homeless, inspired her collection effort.

Since she began this collection at the start of November, Perna said she has already received more than 21 sleeping bags through drop-off sites located at Franklin County’s YMCA, Greenfield Savings Bank, Iglesia Pentecostal Church, Four Rivers Charter Public School and RegalCare.

“Just donate a sleeping bag that’s in good condition — something you’d want to sleep in,” Perna said. “We want to give good-quality things to the homeless and I won’t be making repairs on anything. Whatever comes in is what’s going to go out, and it’s going to a very, very good cause.”

On Wednesday, Perna joined Four Rivers middle and high school students participating in the school’s Trash or Treat service club to drop off sleeping bags at the YMCA.

Four Rivers history teacher Joanna Morse, who serves as a club supervisor, said although Trash or Treat typically performs cleanup initiatives, its involvement with the sleeping bag drive serves as an expansion of service to the community.

“As a school, we’re really interested in continuing our education on service work,” Morse said. “We’re looking to expand our contacts and stay involved in meeting the needs of the community.”

One of the student volunteers, Jaida Bache, 14, said she joined Trash or Treat to engage with and work in service to the community.

Another student, Ella Smith, 13, said she enjoys volunteering and she hopes to someday work in a field focused on helping others.

“I feel that the sleeping bag drive is very important,” Bache said, “because everyone deserves an equal chance and everyone should have the ability to be warm in the winter.”

Anthony Cammalleri can be reached at acammalleri@recorder.com or 413-930-4429.