Coats For Kids is once again asking the community to help local children this holiday season in need of coats, hats, gloves and scarves.
The 20th annual Coats For Kids formally kicked off November 12 at MLK Montessori School in Fort Wayne. Once again the Volunteer Center hopes to collect more than 5,000 coats to keep children warm this winter. Collections actually started November 9, and the drive can run through December 1. In just a few days, the Volunteer Center has already collected more than 1,500 coats, according to Volunteer Center executive director Ani Ettler.
"26 percent of children in Allen County are living in poverty," Etter tells ParkviewSportsMedicine.com. "These are families that are working. Many of them are working more than 2 jobs trying to make ends meet. We don't want kids to be cold this winter, so it's a little thing we can do to help those families."
Parkview Sports Medicine and Parkview Ortho Hospital are pleased to help out in the effort, and new and gently-used coats, scarves, hats and gloves can be dropped off at Parkview Ortho Hospital, 11130 Parkview Circle Drive, Entrance 7, in Fort Wayne and the Parkview Ortho Express walk-in clinic, 3946 Ice Way, Entrance 2 in Fort Wayne. Other drop off locations can be found here.
Additionally, the Volunteer Center welcomes donations through online giving. $25 is enough for Volunteer Center officials to shop and buy a coat, scarf, hat and mittens for a child.
Once the coats are collected, they are dry-cleaned, sorted and distributed by volunteers and members of the Fort Wayne Fire Department to schools throughout the area.
"I always tell people that you don't need a cape to be a superhero. This is something that you can do to help a child to make their winter a little bit better," Etter adds.
Any families seeking coats from the Coats For Kids drive should contact their schools’ case managers or counselors to start a referral process. Social service agencies in need of coats for children may contact the Volunteer Center at 260.424.3505.