• • Jackson County Pilot

The local Coats for Kids effort has provided winter coats, hats, mittens, boots, gloves and scarves to families in need of these items for six years in Jackson County. But this year the need for warm outdoor winter clothing appears to be even greater, as donations are not coming in as before, with a couple items in particularly short supply.

“In the six years we have had this countywide community initiative, we have yet to meet the need,” Greg Warner, community organizer with Western Community Action for Jackson and Cottonwood counties, said earlier this week. “We have great partners that provide us dollars so we can go out and purchase items and volunteers that help each year with Coats for Kids and with the distribution of the warm winter wear we receive. We have many organizations — businesses, libraries, schools and churches — within the county that help too. But I am concerned that with the economy the way it is and the layoffs here, we may not have the coats we need for the kids this year and each year we are always short snow pants and warm, winter boots for them.”

Warner said although organizers try each year to provide warm winter wear for kids, this year they need everything — coats, hats, scarves, snow pants, boots, mittens and gloves.

“We should be able to cover every kid in the county,” he said. “Community issues need community solutions. We all network and bring our resources together (and) we should, with all these organizations, be able to meet the need. We give them coats and all the winter items and try to make sure they are both nice and warm. Yet we have even run out of coats some years.”

Typically, 2,000 coats are distributed per year, Warner said.

“Not everything is donated from you and me and other households,” he said. “In addition to funds from the United Way, businesses like Polaris donate items, too, or have in the past.”

All families with kids potentially in need of winter wear are sent letters inviting them to the distribution of the winter wear, which this year will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 21, at the Jackson County Resource Center in Jackson.

“Donations are received now through Monday, Oct. 19,” Warner said. “Anyone can donate new or gently-used winter wear items for kids in infant sizes to adult extra-large size. Drop boxes are located at a number of sites in our communities. But items can also be donated at the Family Services Network Office located in the Jackson County Resource Center in Jackson Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day.”

In Alpha, a drop box is located at the Farmers and Merchants State Bank. In Jackson, drop boxes are located at Family Services Network, the Historic State Theatre, Jackson Chiropractic, Jackson Public Library, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, First Presbyterian Church, Pizza Ranch, Riverside Elementary School, Jackson County Central High School, Sanford Jackson Medical Center, Strom’s, Sunshine Foods, United Prairie Bank and Salem Lutheran Church. In Lakefield, donation drop boxes are located at Hage Oil, Immanuel Lutheran Church, JCC Middle School, Lakefield City Hall, First National Bank, the Lakefield Public Library, Pleasantview Elementary School and Sanford Clinic. In Okabena, a drop box is located at Southwest Star Concept High School and in Heron Lake at the City Hall.

“Because of confidentiality issues, Jackson County Human Services sends out all the letters of invitation to the families that have received services in Jackson County on Friday, Oct. 9,” Warner said. “Those families that have kids in need of coats or other winter wear that don’t receive a letter of invitation can call the Family Services Network at 847-4441 or 800-850-2737, where they can arrange to pick up items they need on Thursday, Oct. 22, or Friday, Oct. 23.”

Warner said the items donated are set up at the resource center by gender and size similar to a normal shopping experience for those participating — only no money is exchanged.

“The distribution takes place in the gym,” he added. “The items distributed are youth-style winter wear that kids are proud of and can wear to school. We encourage the kids to come along to the distribution to find the coat, hat, boots and gloves or mittens that fit and ones they would like to wear. The volunteers working at the distribution are respectful and courteous to everyone.”

And there is a plus for the volunteers too.

“Volunteers get as much from helping with the distribution as the recipients of the winter wear,” Warner said. “In recent years, we have had a lot of teachers help with this.”

He also noted that the organizers of this year’s Pork Chop Open have donated $850 to be used just for boots and snow pants.

Anyone with questions regarding Coats for Kids or who knows of children who may be in need of winter wear items can call the Family Services Network.