Western Queens residents have donated more than 100 coats to help less fortunate individuals this season, as part of a coat drive organized by City Councilmember Elizabeth Crowley.
“It’s going to be cold for a few more months and these coats will go a long way towards making sure New York families are warm in the winter,” said Crowley. “By donating a winter coat, you will be making a real difference to someone in our community.”
Crowley said that the coat drive, which started in December and continues through Friday, January 29, was even more important this year because many families are being affected by the poor economic conditions. Crowley is attending nightly community meetings and encouraging different organizations to donate coats they are no longer using.
“Help New Yorkers keep warm this winter by donating a coat or jacket that you or your family no longer needs,” said Crowley. “Every winter, too many people cannot afford the basic materials to keep them warm.”
The coats that are being collected during the drive are being donated to the Holy Child Jesus Church in Richmond Hill and the United Presbyterian Church in Ridgewood.
Walter Cooper, volunteer and director of social outreach for the food pantry at Holy Child Jesus Church, has seen a need for this type of drive this winter.
“Kids grow up and get bigger and with this economic downturn, people can’t replace what they have,” said Cooper. “A lot of the time mothers will sacrifice not getting a new coat for themselves and they need to get one as well.”
So far, people have been taking advantage of these donations to the churches. “This week we gave away over 30 and last week about five or six,” said Cooper.
Crowley’s office expects to bring more than 50 winter coats to the United Presbyterian Church of Ridgewood sometime this week.
Winter coats in good condition and all sizes are welcome, through the end of the drive.
To find out about picking up a coat, please call the Holy Child Jesus Church at 718-847-1860 or the United Presbyterian Church of Ridgewood at 718-417-9662.
