NEWBERRY COUNTY — Give (and get) a warm feeling this holiday season by participating in the Newberry County Coats for Kids Drive.
The Newberry County Recreation Department has teamed with the Newberry County YMCA and the Newberry County School Supply Drive to collect jackets for children in need. For the sixth year, the coat drive is being held in memory of Donnie Layton who — along with Gerdi Lake and Jerry Coffey — started the drive 10 years ago.
“Winter weather is starting and people are scrambling to find warm coats to wear. With tougher economic times, we’re finding more people in need of warm clothing,” said chair Gerdi Lake.
County Clean owner David Force has agreed to clean coats again this year. The local Walmart has also been a part of helping for the last six years.
“Newberry County is committed to programs that are in the spirit of giving back to the community during the holiday season. This is an outstanding program, and I ask each citizen of the county to search his or her closets for a coat that will help keep a child warm this winter. We are also accepting warm winter blankets,” Lake said.
The program started Nov. 30 and continues through Dec. 14. Donors are encouraged to locate gently used winter coats, have them cleaned, and then drop them off at any location listed below. Because kids come in all shapes and sizes, the drive is asking for donations from youth to adult sizes.
The goal is to make sure no child in Newberry County goes cold. Those who want to make monetary donations can make checks payable to the “Newberry County School Supply Drive.”
Many times children outgrow their winter coats before the coat is worn, and parents are asked to consider donating the coats rather than allowing them to simply take up space in an attic or closet.
“We genuinely want to do everything we can as a partner in our communities, and our ultimate goal is to make sure that everyone who needs a warm winter coat this season has one, even in these hard economic times,” Lake said.
Donations can be dropped off at these locations:
• Newberry County Annex, 1309 College St., Newberry
• Country Clean Laundry & Dry Cleaning, 1220 Wilson Road, Newberry Shopping Center
• Newberry County YMCA on Old Jolly Street Road
• Prosperity Town Center, 305 N. Main St., Prosperity
Call the Newberry Recreation Department at 803-924-8328 for more information.