Coats for Kids Helps Children in Need
With many families with young children continuing to struggle in these challenging economic times, there has never been a better time for Knights of Columbus councils to help by providing warm winter coats to children in their communities through the Order’s Coats for Kids program.
For the 2011/12 winter season to date, 698 Knights of Columbus councils purchased and distributed 26,028 coats. In addition the Supreme Council also purchased 5,500 coats that were sent to several state councils for distribution, for a total of 31,528 coats given out. This is a significant increase over the 2010/11 number of 17,626 coats distributed.
Since 2009, the Knights of Columbus has distributed more than 70,000 coats to kids throughout the United States and Canada.
At an event held in Salt Lake City on Dec. 17, 2011 Utah Knights gave out 200 coats to children in need. The Knights distributed an additional 200 coats at a local food bank and 200 more by other councils at other locations on the same day.
“The look on the children’s faces as well as the parent’s faces is priceless because they are so appreciative,” said Andy Airriess, Utah State Council program director, in an article appearing in the Intermountain Catholic newspaper by Christine Young. “This could be the first new piece of clothing they have ever received and the feeling is fantastic.”
All Knights of Columbus councils are invited to participate in Coats for Kids this Winter. Simply complete and submit the Coats for Kids order form, and you’ll get your coats in about two to three weeks. The minimum order is one case of 12 coats, and the cost is $195 per case ($16.25 per coat). Shipping charges are added to each order, but the Supreme Council works with our supplier to ship via the most economical means possible, and the Supreme Council will pick up half of the shipping costs on every order placed by a Knights of Columbus council. Each case of high-quality coats will contain either boys coats or girls coats, both of which come in a variety of sizes (4-16 for girls, 4-18 for boys), styles and colors.