Posted 1:01 am Thursday, October 27, 2011
PATH Coats For Kids Drive Needs Donations
By REBECCA HOEFFNER
Staff Writer
Esther Viveros pointed to a Bible verse she had jotted on a Post-it note.
“You know this verse, 2 Corinthians 9:11-12?” she said. “It talks about generosity. PATH is this verse. They are good people who want to help.”
People Attempting to Help continues collecting monetary and coat donations for its Coats for Kids drive.
Ms. Viveros hopes her son Allen, 10, will be one who receives a coat. She is a single mother who supports her son and herself with what she earns cleaning houses.
“This is a dream for the children,” she said. “They can pick out a coat they want, any design, and I don’t have to tell him it’s too expensive. I can use the money to buy him shoes or something else.”
The distribution days are “exciting, frantic and daunting,” Becky Duncan, community outreach coordinator, said.
Staff Writer
Esther Viveros pointed to a Bible verse she had jotted on a Post-it note.
“You know this verse, 2 Corinthians 9:11-12?” she said. “It talks about generosity. PATH is this verse. They are good people who want to help.”
People Attempting to Help continues collecting monetary and coat donations for its Coats for Kids drive.
Ms. Viveros hopes her son Allen, 10, will be one who receives a coat. She is a single mother who supports her son and herself with what she earns cleaning houses.
“This is a dream for the children,” she said. “They can pick out a coat they want, any design, and I don’t have to tell him it’s too expensive. I can use the money to buy him shoes or something else.”
The distribution days are “exciting, frantic and daunting,” Becky Duncan, community outreach coordinator, said.
“The sun will come up on 5,200 people already in line,” she said. “The first in line will get here as early as 4 a.m. They’re willing to wait four hours to get a good coat for their child.”
Last year, 1,185 children received coats — the number was down from the year before, Ms. Duncan said. Organizers hope to give out 1,500 coats this year.
Some families sleep in their coats when they can’t afford to pay their heating bill, Ms. Duncan said.
Ms. Viveros may even discourage Allen from taking his coat to school, since he’ll most likely be in the warm indoors all day, she said.
Last year, 1,185 children received coats — the number was down from the year before, Ms. Duncan said. Organizers hope to give out 1,500 coats this year.
Some families sleep in their coats when they can’t afford to pay their heating bill, Ms. Duncan said.
Ms. Viveros may even discourage Allen from taking his coat to school, since he’ll most likely be in the warm indoors all day, she said.
“If it’s one the other kids like, they tend to disappear,” she said.
To receive coats, a guardian must show a photo ID and proof of residence in Smith County. They must also show some type of legal document with each child’s name on it, such as a birth certificate or Social Security card. Coats will be given out to children from infants to age 18. Coats will be distributed from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 19 and 1 to 4 p.m. Nov. 20.
To receive coats, a guardian must show a photo ID and proof of residence in Smith County. They must also show some type of legal document with each child’s name on it, such as a birth certificate or Social Security card. Coats will be given out to children from infants to age 18. Coats will be distributed from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 19 and 1 to 4 p.m. Nov. 20.
PATH is using a new website to collect monetary contributions, www.helpfund.it/path, but, website donations will only be processed if they meet or exceed their goal of $5,000 for 200 coats before the Oct. 31 deadline.
Gently used coats can be taken to any participating dry cleaners, including VIP Cleaners, Hart’s Cleaners, Eagle Cleaners, Shannon’s Cleaners, Gentry Dry Cleaners, Dry Clean Super Center, Regency Cleaners, Lindale Cleaners and The Cleaning Company. PATH organizers ask that coats be taken to the cleaners before Oct. 31 as well.
New coat donations can be delivered to the PATH office, 402 W. Front St. New coats will be accepted until Nov. 18.
Gently used coats can be taken to any participating dry cleaners, including VIP Cleaners, Hart’s Cleaners, Eagle Cleaners, Shannon’s Cleaners, Gentry Dry Cleaners, Dry Clean Super Center, Regency Cleaners, Lindale Cleaners and The Cleaning Company. PATH organizers ask that coats be taken to the cleaners before Oct. 31 as well.
New coat donations can be delivered to the PATH office, 402 W. Front St. New coats will be accepted until Nov. 18.
