Each year the Worcester County Reserve Deputy Sheriff’s Charitable Foundation sponsors our Annual Winter Coat Drive. The COVID 19 Pandemic has forced our foundation to shift gears with our fundraising efforts, as in years past we were able to collect gently used coat donations. We are no longer able to do this due to COVID 19.
Last year, the Annual Winter Coat Drive served as a vital resource for underserved populations in our community, providing over 3,500 brand new winter jackets to families in need throughout Worcester County. Through generous donations and contributions from Charitable Foundations, we were able to provide winter jackets in 2020 to just some of the following organizations:
St. John's Food for the Poor Program, Seven Hills Foundation, Net of Compassion, Catholic Charities, Women's Recovery Center in Leominster, Spanish American Center Leominster, Gardner Community Action Council, Our Father's House Fitchburg, Fitchburg Community Connections Center, Saint Anne's Human Services, LIFT, Hector Reyes House Worcester, Veterans Inc., West Boylston Senior Center, Leicester Senior Center and Abby's House, The ARC, and Tradewinds.
Even after our coat drive distributions have been made, we still receive requests for winter jackets from schools and homeless shelters. It is with the generosity of grants such as yours that we can provide new winter jackets to these institutions, families, etc. and not turn them away.
Many families continue to struggle year after year and we are seeing a rising need for the most vulnerable, this being children. Last year we were able to distribute 1,500 coats to children out of the 3,500 we distributed. This year it is our vision and hope, to exceed the amount of winter jackets by 500.
