Coats for Kids distributes new
and gently-used children’s and adult’s coats,
jackets, sweaters, and sweatshirts to those in need
each year. To all of our volunteers — those of you who
donate clothing, graciously accept items at our drop-off
locations, store our items, help us at our distributions, and
our cleaners who clean items that need it — Thank you!
2020 UPDATE
Our committee for Coats for Kids has struggled with how we could produce that event safely for everyone involved, from volunteers to those who benefit from the distribution. Normally, we serve over 750 families between the Paso Robles and the Atascadero distributions of warm coats, jackets, sweaters, and sweatshirts for each member in the family. That can equate to working with some 3,000 items!
Due to the logistics involved in the set-ups of the distributions, our committee determined that this year, and only this year, we would cancel the regular way we have worked for 33 years. Our dedicated cleaners, Fashion Cleaners in Atascadero, Plaza Cleaners in Atascadero and Paso Robles, and Paso Robles Cleaners and Laundry in Paso Robles, will continue to accept dropped off Coats for Kids items and clean them free of charge. Committee members will pick them up and we will distribute them in a different way once we determine what that will be. We will work with ECHO, Paso Robles and Atascadero Loaves and Fishes, and many of our churches to reach our families in need. I will keep you posted through my column, our website, and social media. We will not be using the “drop-off” collection boxes around the community, as we have in the past.
Please know that this was a difficult decision for all of us. After 33 years, you can understand that, but safety is a major factor for everyone. I know Atascadero Loaves and Fishes has had to adjust their plans for the Christmas Project, as well as the Kiwanis with Toys for Tots and Toy Bank of Greater Paso Robles. Those groups all plan to move forward in a different way also.
Please keep Coats for Kids in mind when you go through your closets. Make sure the warm items you are donating are worth passing along to someone in need.
Thank you to all of you who have been on our wonderful “volunteer team for so many years. Be assured that we will be back in the swing of things next year.
– Barbie
For more information, please click the button below to e-mail us,
or call Barbie Butz at (805) 461-1234
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