COATS FOR KIDS
THAT’S A WRAP FOR 2016! by: ELIZABETH SATCHELL 2016 marked the 30th anniversary of Coats for Kids (CFK) and before the sun came up on Saturday, December 10, 2016, the energy was already tangible.
30th
ANNIVERSARY
Outside, families lined up around the Palmer Events Center wrapped in layers of clothes and blankets; some had even camped out overnight. Music floated around the perimeter while children ran around the lawn playing. Everyone was waiting to get inside to find the perfect winter coat. Inside the Palmer Events Center, there was a buzz of excitement as volunteers were trained for fitting coats or assisting at the Community Fair. In the hospitality area, volunteers loaded up on coffee and snacks and prepared for a full day of heart-filling giving back to the community. Inside and out, everyone was waiting for 8:00 a.m. to come, when the doors to the event center would open and the coat picking would begin. League members and community volunteers spent hours on Distribution Day connecting with children and families and assisting in finding the best coat for each person. Rachel Pry, CFK Community Fair Lead, said that being able to hear our community volunteers’ stories about how many times they have helped out with CFK, and seeing the way the whole community comes together to support CFK is really special. Coats for Kids is an event that connects community members, families and also League members. Beyond Distribution Day itself and how fulfilling that is, Laura Robinson, CFK Chair, said that one of her favorite things about the event is “the long hours we spent together [as a team] leading up to the event.” The bonds made between people as they unite to give back to the community are lifelong connections. From Penelope the Penguin to new additions to the Community Fair, each year the League improves Coats for Kids to make it the best it can be. What never changes at Coats for Kids, even 30 years later, is the heart in every member and every volunteer.
Photo Page Left: 2016 CFK Chair: Laura Woods Robinson and JLA President Elect: Julie Hall Photo Page Right, Top: JLA Volunteers Nikki Graham, Tima Brown, Angela Davis, Maggie Hansen, and Laura Rodriguez
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