Fall is here, winter will soon be around the corner, and with the high cost of living, it will be hard for some people in the community to afford a winter coat.
Combined Community Services is collecting gently used coats for men, women and especially children now until Oct. 3. Snow boots, scarves, hats and gloves also are being collected.Valerie Warner, owner of Kerlin Trailers Motorsports and Western World, came up with the idea for the coat drive 10 years ago.
"Every year in September I get a phone call from Valerie asking if we need coats. I say yes and that is my cue that the drive is off and running," said Peggi Lisenbee-Wright, CCS director of client assistance.
Lisenbee-Wright said the coat drive has grown over the years and 1,200 coats were donated during last year's coat drive.
Coats can be dropped off at the following sites: Kerlin Trailers Motorsports and Western World, 3298 E. U.S. 30; WRSW/Willie 103.5/ESPN 1480, 216 W. Market St.; or CCS, 110 E. Prairie St.; Kerlin Motors, 9944 Ind. 15, Silver Lake.
People who drop off coats before 9 a.m. Oct. 3 at WRSW will receive a cup of coffee and donut.
When the collection ends, coats will be dry cleaned by Wildman Cleaners and delivered to CCS. Community volunteers sort and hang the coats that will be distributed to CCS clients.
"This is a particularly difficult time in our community with job losses and the higher costs of basic living expenses that are making it even more difficult for families to provide necessities like a good winter coat." Lisenbee-Wright said.
She said the community has been supportive of the coat drive in previous years and is praying the community will again donate coats this year.
