For over two decades, Bradford’s grassroots Coats for Kids campaign has been providing gently-used winterwear – coats, hats, boots, mitts, snowsuits – at no charge, to ensure that no child has to face a harsh Canadian winter unprepared.
Coats for Kids was launched by the late Jack MacFadden, educator, who looked out over a snowy school yard and noticed several children playing outside without warm coats or mitts.
The first coat drive took place at his school, simply asking parents to share any outgrown and unneeded but still serviceable winterwear to be distributed to kids in need.
Coats for Kids quickly outgrew the school, and became a volunteer-run grassroots organization – operating first at the Bradford Legion, but soon moving into the basement of the St. Mary’s A Hall on Frederick Street in Bradford, with the blessing of the Town of BWG.
The depot generally opens some time after Thanksgiving, Thursdays from 6 to 8 p.m. Any family in need of warm winterwear can drop in to look for coats, snowsuits, bunting bags, hats, mitts, gloves and scarves at no charge.
All of the winterwear is provided through donations from the community.
Volunteer co-ordinator Catherine Snow first began working at Coats for Kids when she was a student herself, coming in to help her mom, Nives Snow, with sorting and hanging up the donations. It’s become her passion to keep the organization going and meet the needs of the community.
This year, Coats for Kids opened on Nov. 7, thanks to a mild October. But, said Snow, the racks are sadly depleted. Almost everything on display was left over from last year’s winter season.
“We have only gotten two bags of donations so far this year,” Snow said. “Thank God we had big donations last year!”
Especially needed are waterproof mitts and gloves for kids, men’s gloves, snowsuits, larger-sized coats for teens and young adults, and winter boots sizes 4 and up.
There are plenty of boots available, said Snow, but “the majority are under size 4!”
Even so, she added, “anything is welcome!”
Donations can be dropped off at the Coats for Kids depot on Thursdays, from 6 to 8 p.m., or contact Snow at [email protected].
There are now a number of ‘Coats for Kids’ clothing drives over the year, operated by various groups for various charities – but Coats For Kids at the St. Mary’s Hall is Bradford’s original, home-grown version of neighbour helping neighbour.
