State Council Sponsored Coats for Kids
- Fri, Nov 8, 2019 3:30 AM
Coats for Kids is an Order-wide program began in 2009 by the Supreme Council. It’s designed to provide warmth to children in need during the winter months. Since the program’s inception, nearly half a million new coats have been distributed in the United States and Canada.
Knights of Columbus across North America collect donations from council members and purchase the new winter coats at a discount rate from the Supreme Council. Local councils then distribute the coats in their communities.
 | This year, about 50 Michigan councils are signed up to participate, with over 400 volunteers statewide, according to Bill Leveque, State Program Director. “The reception of it has been overwhelming,” Leveque said. “The Center for Hope in Flint expressed a need for about 600 coats, and we gave over 900 coats to another local church last week in Plymouth. It’s been a great response from the communities, and the smiles on the kids’ face when they pick out a coat is amazing.”
The State Council provided several hundred coats for distribution by local councils joining together in District & Diocesan give-away dates. From Detroit to Grand Rapids to Muskegon, Directors, District Deputies and council members determined central points where the need was the greatest for these events.
The annual totals of the give-away program reach record levels yearly because the need continues to grow. The State Council realizes this so the program will continue at the local level with their assistance until the allotment of coats is depleted.
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Over 700 coats were donated in a couple of hours on a Saturday in Detroit. In Grand Rapids on another Saturday over 200 were given away directly to children, with another 180 donated to charitable agencies for distribution to those they determine in need. On an evening in Muskegon 269 coats were given to children in 3 hours.
The total number of coats given away this year cannot be determined at this time because many local councils organize this program independently and promote the schedule dates through local media and parish bulletins as well as social media. But we expect another record year. As State Program Director Bill says, “the smiles on the kids’ face when they pick out a coat is amazing.”