GIVE NOW

Not long ago, I was at a local restaurant to pick up donations for the Christian Aid Center. While there, one of the employees began asking me questions about my volunteer work. When I told her that I also helped with the Coats for Kids campaign, her face instantly brightened. 

As a child, her family had struggled financially and had been helped by this program. Even now she remembers how wonderful it felt to receive a beautiful, new winter coat.

Many children in our community also come from families who are having a challenging time making ends meet. Even a necessity like a warm coat to wear to school and out on the playground, can be hard to come by.

That's why I am writing to you today about Coats for Kids.  This annual campaign has been supplying winter coats to children in need for the past 23 years, through a partnership between the Christian Aid Center and the four area school districts.

Last year, more than 300 coats were given to children who really needed them. We know this because we work directly with the counselors in each school. They know the families and they see the children on a regular basis. 

I can tell you last year was stressful for the schools because of the pandemic, but what warmed my heart was their dedication to making sure every child in need had a coat even it they weren't in the classroom. I know of teachers who personally delivered coats to the homes of families.

Here's what Mireya Vargas, a school intervention specialist, had to say after last year's campaign:

"I can honestly tell you that each of the students we handed coats to were thankful, but even more were the parents. I especially think one mom who thanked me more than a handful of times saying how kind people are in this community to support the Coats for Kids program. Having coats for her children was one less thing she had to worry about, and she was grateful for that!"

This program is possible because of the compassion of friends like you. Your gift of $20 will provide one coat, or maybe you can give $100 which will help five kids in need. Whatever size gift you can give will help children stay warm this winter.

I also want you to know that all coats purchased for this campaign will be brand new. We think kids should not only be warm, but also feel special for having a coat purchased especially for them.

With the weather getting colder, I hope you will take this opportunity to directly help a child by supporting the Coats for Kids campaign.

DONATE NOW

Sincerely,

Meet Cherish, Zoe and Derek -- three awesome kids who decided to spend some of their vacation time helping others.  On Tuesday, they raised $69.43 for our shelter with their lemonade stand on the corner of Birch and Catherine Streets.  They also made some cool summertime decorations for our dining hall.  Thank you!

Every summer before school starts, Whitman College offers a remarkable community outreach program for incoming freshmen. This program, labeled S.C.O.R.E (short for Summer Community OutReach Excursion) offers the new freshmen a unique chance to get acquainted and involved in their new community before classes begin and life gets hectic. During the week, students volunteer for daily service projects and visit the non-profits and community organizations around Walla Walla.

This year, we had six new students from Whitman College volunteer here at the Christian Aid Center doing the dirty work of cleaning our playground equipment, organizing a storage garage, and preparing dinner for 75 guests in our dining room.

Thank you, S.C.O.R.E, for your hard work and involvement in the community! We hope to see you again. God bless your new school year!