Help Fill the Gap
Last year in Victoria a program called Coats for Kids collected and distributed 3500 coats to children in need in our community. This year, due to unforseen circumstances, the organization who usually runs this program is unable to do so.
So a group of concerned community members, unaffiliated with any charity or non-profit organization, are taking it upon themselves to fill this gap.
Please help us by making a donation of coats, gloves, hats, shoes, socks or any winter or watertproof gear.
Our target for this campaign to is to exceed the 3500 coats donated last year.
For more information, or to volunteer your time, email 3500COATS@groups.facebook.com
Please drop off items at the following locations:
Blanchard Community Centre
901 Kings Road (map)
Victoria Native Friendship Centre (map)
Hip Baby (map)
(More locations to come)
3500 Coats Drive in the News
Coats for Kids campaign saved
By Laura Lavin – Oak Bay News
Published: December 22, 2011
Last year Coats for Kids collected and distributed 3,500 coats to children and families in Greater Victoria.
This year, the program was cancelled until a group of concerned community members, unaffiliated with any charity or non-profit organization, took it upon themselves to fill the void.
“(The cancellation) left a gap in access to warm coats for many families, and particularly children, who would normally get up to 120 coats donated through their school, or a community centre,” said Rose Henry, who is helping with this year’s collection.
“Beyond the generous giving at this time of year, a coat is one of the basic needs for people and without this program it will increase the need on the existing community services, like the food bank,” she said.
“We’ve heard from other community services that clothing donations have dropped over the last several months.”
The group is asking for donations of coats, gloves, hats, shoes, socks or any winter or waterproof gear which will be distributed to those in need.
“Our target for this campaign is to exceed the 3,500 coats donated last year and bring awareness of this much needed program to continue no matter what happens,” Henry said.
New or used items can be dropped off at the Victoria Anti-Violence Project at the University of Victoria, building B027; Hip Baby Clothing, 104A-560 Johnson St.; and in the carport at 222 Langford St. or at the Blanshard Community Centre, 901 Kings Rd.
For more information contact 3500COATS@groups.facebook.com
