There’s been a chill in the air, so it won’t be long until everyone needs to be bundled up in a warm, winter coat.
This impending change in season signals the beginning of The News Observer’s annual Coats for Kids drive.
As your local newspaper has done for the past 15 years and now celebrates the 16th anniversary, we will give you a one-year subscription in exchange for a warm, winter coat to be given to a child.
This effort began with a close-knit partnership with the Fannin County Empty Stocking Program to make sure every child the program served received a new coat for Christmas.
Over the years, Coats for Kids has expanded to include not only those signed up for Empty Stocking help, but any child who needs a coat. Last year, 620 coats were donated and given to children through Coats for Kids. This brought the 15-year effort to a total of 10,088 coats.
As in past years, The News Observer is partnering with Empty Stocking who will send those in need to the coat distribution. Blue Ridge Walmart has also again graciously joined the effort to help collect coats.
This year, the newspaper has a new partner, Fannin County Family Connection. Director Sherry Morris has agreed to host the coat distribution and the organization’s volunteers will be on hand to help distribute the coats. This change will be invaluable to reaching less fortunate families in the easiest manner possible.
We’re also adding a new twist to the coat drive this year. It’s not a requirement for the subscription offer, it’s just a request as we’ve determined another need we believe our newspaper readers would want to know about in order to help.
This year we’re asking that a new, warm, winter blanket be added to your coat donation. Morris tells us a tremendous need exists for blankets every winter. Knowing the need is out there, we saw our coat drive as a way to help. The News Observer will collect them, Family Connection will distribute them, a less fortunate family will be warmer, and you, our readers, will have been another source of blessings.
Again, a blanket is not required to participate in Coats for Kids, it’s just something we knew readers would want to know about.
Coats and blankets will be accepted at The News Observer’s office across from Ingles and next door to Blue Ridge Yamaha on Highway 515 Wednesday, October 14, through Thursday, October 29, between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Walmart will accept them every day, October 14 through the 29, at the service desk between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.
The coats and blankets will be distributed at Fannin County Family Connection starting Monday, November 2, from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. Distribution times will be the same through Friday, November 6, with the exception of Thursday, November 5, when coats will be handed out from 1 p.m. until 8 p.m.
All of us at The News Observer thank everyone who participates.