For 10 years, the Walker Community Action Alliance has been holding a winter coat drive to help our community’s most vulnerable. That translates into hundreds of coats for kids in foster care, families trying to make ends meet, veterans and people experiencing homelessness.
Coats for Children in Foster Care
When the weather gets colder, the Catholic Charities team in Prescott knows it can expect a visit from members of the Walker Community. Victoria and Jeff Morhous visited our office to deliver 110 winter coats this year. Our team will distribute these throughout the winter. “There is always a big need for coats, especially for young children,” said Joanne Williams, Catholic Charities office manager in Prescott.
Foster families never know when they will get a call saying a child needs a home. Often, the children only come with the clothes on their backs. “We are blessed to be able to help keep children warm this winter and serve the community’s most vulnerable,” said Rebecca Hancock, licensing specialist for Northern Arizona Therapeutic Foster Care.
“The Barron family have been foster parents for the last 12 years, and they are always so grateful when receiving donations from Catholic Charities. The coats came as a big surprise and fit the foster placements perfectly,” said Hancock. She will also be dropping off coats to a kinship foster family in Prescott Valley who adopted two children this month.
A Labor of Love
Victoria and Jeff collect gently used coats throughout the year. Victoria washes every single coat and keeps them stored until it’s time to bring them to Catholic Charities. “Victoria also has a “Koats for Kids” fund, each $20 donation equals one coat,” said Williams.
Besides donating coats, people in the Walker Community are encouraged to pledge $1 per coat donated. These pledges add up and the Walker Community Action Alliance purchases Fry’s Gift Cards that can be used for Thanksgiving dinners. These gift cards are given to Catholic Charities and our community partner the Salvation Army.
Catholic Charities is grateful for Walker Community Action Alliance. Would you like to partner with us to help people in need? Take a look at some of the ways to give at Catholic Charities!
