Salvation Army launches annual coat drive to keep kids warm this winter
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KBSI) – The Salvation Army is currently accepting donations for ‘Coats for Kids’.
It’s cold! Time to pull out those coats! Speaking of coats, it may seem like a small thing but to a child waiting at the bus stop a warm coat can make all the difference.
That’s why Captain Lily Reinier with the Salvation Army says they partner with a radio station each year to get coat donations for ‘Coats for Kids’. Ran completely off of donations and volunteers, Captain Lily shares that in previous years they’ve helped more than 400 children stay warm through the winter, but they expect an even bigger need this year.
“So, we’ve just seen a big increase of people. So, whether I don’t know if it’s just from everything that’s happening right now or just the need is just greater this year but yeah, we’re seeing an increase of people. So, we’re just trying to help the best we can” says Reinier.
The Salvation Army of Cape Girardeau is accepting gently used or new coat donations through Thursday and families in need can pick up a kid’s coat starting next week.
“So, we’ll start giving out starting the week of November 17th, so, all they really need to do is come in and then we’ll have stuff set up in here where they can just come through and get a coat that they need” says Reinier.
According to Captain Lily this is one of the programs made possible through their volunteer bell ringers and they are always looking for more volunteers.
When parents are struggling it can be hard to scrape together the money for a coat especially if they have multiple children, even just one gently used coat can make a world of a difference to a child.
“Any coat. That’s one more person that may have a coat that might not have had one prior to this” says Reinier.
To donate gently used coats can be dropped off at the Salvation Army of Cape Girardeau until Thursday.
To receive a coat simply show up to the Salvation Army of Cape Girardeau starting on November 17 and pick one out for each child in need.
The Salvation Army Cape Girardeau
To volunteer as a holiday bell ringer Brighten the Holidays – The Salvation Army Cape Girardeau.
