MASSCAP and Member CAAs Join in Project to Distribute 45,600 Coats to Needy Families
This year MASSCAP worked again with Graham Communications and Anton’s Cleaners from November through mid-January to distribute winter coats to adults and children. Anton's collects the coats--donated by patrons--at its stores and from numerous schools in eastern Massachusetts that have joined the Coats for Kids program. Since Anton’s Cleaners began Coats for Kids seven years ago, more than 125,000 coats have been donated, cleaned, and distributed to social service agencies and homeless shelters throughout the region.
The goal for this year had been to collect and disseminate 30,000 coats. But the campaign easily surpassed that mark: it collected and distributed 45,600 coats--a 41 percent increase over last year.
The successful effort involved MASSCAP plus an impressive array of other sponsoring and partnering groups and businesses.
The program’s strength lies in area schools that accounted for nearly two-thirds of the donated coats. This year more than 170 elementary and middle schools throughout eastern Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire participated in the program.
Thirteen of Massachusetts' 25 community action agencies (CAAs) formed part of the distribution network and their efforts were coordinated through their statewide association, MASSCAP.
“MASSCAP and the CAAs participating in Coats for Kids were thrilled to be able to work with Anton’s to bring warm winter coats to the low-income people that we serve,” said Joe Diamond, MASSCAP Executive Director. “Along with home heating fuel, warm winter coats help our clients stay warm and allow them to focus on the training and education that they need to become self-sufficient.”
Seven of the 13 Massachusetts CAAs involved in this year's distribution network for the coats have participated in the program before. They are: Community Teamwork (CTI) in Lowell; Greater Lawrence Community Action Council (GLCAC); Community Action, Inc. (CAI) in Haverhill; Lynn Opportunity Council (LEO); Tri-CAP in Malden; Quincy Community Action Programs (QCAP); and South Shore Community Action Council (SSCAC) in Plymouth. This year, six other CAAs joined them: Self-Help, Inc. in Brockton; Community Action of Cape Cod and the Islands (CACCI); Berkshire Community Action (BCAC), Hampshire Community Action Commission (HCAC) in Hampshire County; Valley Opportunity Council (VOC) in Chicopee; and Franklin Community Action Corporation (FCAC) in Franklin County.
The Salvation Army also handled coat distribution as did six homeless shelters.
Other co-sponsors of Coats for Kids included Fox 25 (WFXT-TV) and the Boston Bruins. Supporting partners for the effort included: All Sports Promotion; Batten Brothers Sign; Ben & Jerry’s; Brigham’s Inc.; Citizens Bank; Graham Communications; IT Corporation; J.L. Hammett Co.; Kirkpatrick & Lockhart LLP; Package Supply Corporation; RAM Leather; Safety-Kleen Systems, Inc.; Veryfine Products; and Williams Engineering.
Anton’s Cleaners, based in Tewksbury, operates 41 stores in eastern Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire. It has been a family-owned business since its first store opened in 1913.
If you are interested in participating in future years, call the Coats for Kids hotline at (800) 659-0069.
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