Fall is here, the days are growing cooler and the nights are getting a little longer. Soon, frost and flurries will be in the air and warm, cozy coats and accessories will be necessary. With this in mind, South Essex Community Council (SECC) is once again collecting and distributing clean, gently used coats and winter accessories for infants, children, teens and adults through the Coats for Kids program.
“Coats for Kids is an annual critical community service,” says Mark Wybenga, Volunteer Services Department Coordinator at SECC.
“Each year, hundreds of winter coats and accessories are distributed to children and adults in our community. In 2021, SECC distributed 365 coats. With the lingering economic impact of COVID-19 and the recent pressure of increasing inflation,” Wybenga continues, “household budgets are stretched ever thinner and thinner. For many, a warm, well-fitting winter coat, while needed, just may not be in the budget this year. This is where the generous support of the community is required.”
From October 3-28, SECC will be collecting gently used coats at both its Leamington (215 Talbot St. E.) and Kingsville (313 Main St. E. Unit 21) locations. SECC is also pleased to partner with Kennedy’s Cleaners in uptown Leamington as an additional drop-off location that will also be donating their services to clean any coats brought to their location.
“It’s businesses like Kennedy’s Cleaners that help make this program a success locally,” says Wybenga. Coats dropped off at SECC’s Leamington and Kingsville locations will be cleaned by a local uniform service in partnership with Windsor-Essex County’s Coats for Kids coordinating body at UHC – Hub of Opportunities.
SECC would also like to encourage local schools, churches and businesses to take up their own collections for donation to Coats for Kids. We realize that it might not be convenient or possible for folks to get to one of our offices. So, we’re asking our local businesses, churches and schools to consider designating a day or week during October to collect coats at their location.
SECC can then come and pick them up for cleaning. We can even help with providing some promotional materials to post in your workplace, on your social media page or in your bulletin to encourage your staff, students or members to participate. In-house giving campaigns such as this are a quick, inexpensive way to bring people together in the name of a common cause and build team morale while having a direct impact on the broader community.”
Coats will be distributed in-person at SECC’s Leamington office. Distribution will take place beginning Saturday, November 12 from 9am to 3pm, continuing Monday, November 14 from 9am to 3pm and concluding on Tuesday, November 15 from 1pm – 7pm.
For more information about SECC and Coats for Kids, call 519-326-8629, visit secc.on.ca or follow SECC on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @SouthEssexCC.