The annual Coats for Kids campaign has concluded in Amherstburg.
The campaign is administered locally through Amherstburg Community Services (ACS) with partners Team Brad Bondy, Cintas and the Unemployed Help Centre. Distribution took place earlier this month at Encounter Church.
“We collected a good amount of goods,” said Kathy DiBartolomeo, executive director with ACS. “The community was generous yet again.”
Volunteers reported that coat racks were completely packed at the start of the week and had thinned out considerably by the end of the week. Many donations came from within the community this year.
Among the donors was the Wednesday Gibson Gallery Guild, who donated gloves, mittens and scarves.
“We were in great shape that way,” said DiBartolomeo.
Team Brad Bondy was the main sponsor and helped with donations, including a day last month at Rob & Tina’s No Frills where people could come in and drop off their coats in their trailer. They kept that campaign going at the Remax office.
Cintas helped with the dry cleaning and the Unemployed Help Centre also provided winter coats, including some sizes where the ACS campaign fell short.
“Any remaining coats we got will go back to the Unemployed Help Centre and they will distribute them as they see fit,” said DiBartolomeo.
While pleased with the support of the sponsors, ACS was also happy with the generosity of the community as a whole.
“Of course, we couldn’t do it without our community,” said DiBartolomeo.
Amherstburg Community Services also marketed the Coats for Kids campaign in Harrow, McGregor and LaSalle, with people also coming in from those areas to get a warm coat for the winter season.
“We got clients from all of those areas,” she said.
Approximately 314 items were distributed this year, comparable to the 337 that were handed out in 2023.
For more information on Amherstburg Community Services and what the not-for-profit agency offers, call 519-736-5471 or visit www.amherstburg-cs.com.
Coats for Kids campaign concludes
By Ron Giofu
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