The winter months will be a little bit easier for people in need thanks to the Santa Maria Noontime Kiwanis’ annual December Coat Drive. From Dec. 1 through 5, locals can donate coats to any Santa Maria, Orcutt, or Guadalupe RaboBank branch.
There will be clearly marked drop boxes at each of the branches, and coats of all sizes and types are needed. On Dec. 5, the Kiwanis will collect all of the coats and deliver them to the Santa Maria office of Catholic Charities, which will then distribute them to the public and local service agencies.
The Kiwanis have been collecting coats for their annual drive for more than 11 years (that they know of) now.
“How it got started is one of those ancient mysteries,” said Kelly White, with the Kiwanis. She added that the need this year was particularly great.
“It’s probably the worst it’s ever been in years,” she said, referring to Catholic Charities’ turkey distribution day. “The line was around the block.”
And there’s no reason to see the need for coats this winter being any less severe.
“Now more than ever, people are in great need in our community. As the economy falters and people lose homes and jobs, the dignity of the human person is in great jeopardy,” said David Coelho, director of the Santa Maria office of Catholic Charities.
“Having clean, warm clothes to wear is an important way to ensure dignity and pride,” Coelho added.
For more information, visit the Kiwanis website at santamaria
kiwanis.org. m
Intern Nicholas Walter compiled this week’s Community Corner. Send items for consideration to mail@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Dec 4-11, 2008.