Coats For Kids Distributed to 1,185 Kids

TYLER — Tyler’s PATH agency is lauding community participation in its annual Coats for Kids drive. PATH held the coat drive throughout October and distributed those coats Saturday and Sunday. People lined up around the building across from PATH to wait patiently for their turn to pick out new coats for their children. “It was a huge success despite the mild weather,” said Becky Duncan, community outreach coordinator for PATH. “We always worry that people may not be thinking about coats if we haven’t really experienced ‘coat’ weather.’ The timing was actually perfect considering the cold front we’re expecting for Thanksgiving. We were thrilled to see so many people come and even more thrilled to see the smiles on the faces of the kids who got to pick out their new coats.”

87 volunteers helped sort coats, get the children the sizes they need and helped them try them on. 1,185 children and their families attended the distribution over the past weekend. Any remaining coats will be given to St. Paul Children’s Foundation, Goodwill and the Emerald Bay Benevolence Center. New and gently-used coats were given out. Gently-used coats were cleaned for free by area dry cleaners including Lucky’s Cleaners, VIP Cleaners, Hart’s Cleaners, Eagle Cleaners, Shannon’s Cleaners, Gentry Dry Cleaners, Dry Clean Super Center, Regency Cleaners, Lindale Cleaners and The Cleaning Company. PATH is issuing thanks to all the volunteers, the dry cleaners and those who donated coats or funds to buy Coats for Kids.