South Essex Community Council (SECC) is gearing up once again for its annual “Coats for Kids” program, which plays a vital role in ensuring that children, teens, and adults stay warm during the upcoming chilly season.
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 2022, SECC distributed 388 coats and 790 winter accessories,” Wybenga continues.
“With the lingering economic impact of COVID-19 and increasing inflationhousehold 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, especially if more than one person in the household is in need. This is where the generous support of the community is required.”
From October 2-27, SECC will be collecting gently used coats at both its Leamington (215 Talbot St. E.) and Kingsville (313 Main St. E.) locations. 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 Opportunity.
“All coats are cleaned and checked for condition prior to distribution,” says Wybenga, adding, “If you’re wondering if a coat should be donated or not, ask yourself, ‘Would I select this for my child or myself if I saw it hanging on the rack?’ and if the answer is no, then the coat should not be donated.”
Wybenga 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,” he said.
“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 4 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., continuing Monday, November 6 from 1am to 7pm and concluding on Tuesday, November 7 from 1 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Anyone requiring a coat is asked to come in person and to bring other family or household members who require a coat with them.
For more information about SECC and Coats for Kids, call (519) 326-8629, or visit www.secc.on.ca