Coats for Kids Gets a Boost

The Salvation Army’s annual Coats for Kids campaign got a boost from a local hockey team last weekend.The Bantam A Tyees rep team stopped by White Hat Cleaners, which cleans all the coats donated to the campaign, on Saturday with their donation.

When all was said and done, the Tyees had collected an impressive 970 coats and celebrated with hot chocolate and barbecued hot dogs provided by White Hat to promote the coat drive.The jackets will be cleaned by the crew at White Hat and then given to The Salvation Army to distribute to those less fortunate in the community.It’s an initiative that has existed for nearly 20 years in Campbell River and continues this year until Dec. 31.

Salvation Army Cpt. Gord Taylor said the community has really embraced the campaign.“We probably collected about 5,000 coats last year,” Taylor said. “We give them out throughout the entire winter. With the climate here, with all the rain, they typically go through more than one coat.”Taylor said The Salvation Army is “very appreciative” of the community’s support and White Hat which donates its time to clean and collect the jackets.Anyone who would like to donate their gently used coats, gloves, toques and other outerwear can drop them off at White Hat (601 11th Ave.) now until Dec. 31.

Story Credit: Kristen Douglas – Campbell River Mirror