Since 1996, more than 3,000 children have stayed warm thanks to the Builders Association of Kosciusko and Fulton Counties.
The Coats For Kids program started when it was noticed that some children in the community needed winter coats.
In 1996, the Builders Association used $700 to buy 52 coats. Since then, the amount spent and number of coats has increased steadily.In 2007, the group raised more than $11,000 to provide 435 coats to needy children in Kosciusko and Fulton counties.
Each year, the Builder's Association contacts public elementary schools in Kosciusko and Fulton counties, asking school officials to supply the ages, genders and sizes of children who are in need of a new winter coat. The association relies on the observations and judgment of the schools to identify the need for the coats.
Once the list of sizes and genders for the coats is compiled, the Builder's Association buys new coats, hats and gloves for the needy children.
"We have worked with Kmart for many years," said Builder's Association Executive Director Joni Truex. "They have been a big supporter throughout the years."
Truex said the association is in the process of working with other retailers who wish to participate in the program as well.
Once the coats are purchased, they are sorted and bagged for each school by volunteers from the Builder's Association. Then the volunteers deliver the bagged coats to the schools, where school officials distribute the coats.
The coats are delivered as close as Warsaw and as far away as Caston.
The association does not get the names of the children receiving the coats. The program is anonymous for the Builder's Association.
Funding for the project is raised through a summer Coats for Kids Golf Outing, usually held in June or July. All profits from the outing go to purchase the coats.
Sponsors also help fund the project, and all money raised is spent on coats for the needy children.
For more information about the program or the Builder's Association of Kosciusko-Fulton Counties, contact Truex at 574-267-6125 or info@bakfc.com
