It has been an all out battle this fall as area high schools in Roanoke City, Roanoke County and Salem have competed to collect the most winter coats for the Rescue Mission’s Happy Coats-giving drive.
What’s at stake? Free pizza for the winning Key Club, provided by Benny Marconi’s.
The Rescue Mission started Happy Coats-giving in 2012 to provide coats to not only the homeless, but any local man, woman, or child in need. Last year, the Mission gave out close to a thousand coats.
Starting on October 5th, the Key Clubs at Patrick Henry High School, William Fleming High School, Cave Spring High School, Northside High School, Roanoke Catholic, Forest Park Academy and Salem High School and the DECA Club at Hidden Valley High School officially launched their Happy Coatsgiving drives. While the competition has been friendly, the students are excited to help those in need in the community.
“There are about 40 to 50 homeless students at Patrick Henry,” says Patrick Henry Senior and Key Club President, Mason Wheeler. “I walk down the hall and see my friends and peers but it makes me sad to know that some of them might not have a coat for the winter.”
Olivia Kitt is also a senior at Patrick Henry and the Lieutenant Governor of all the Key Clubs in Roanoke County, Roanoke City, Salem City, James River and Stanton River. “I think it’s exciting that a lot of the schools that I work with are involved and that we are essentially working together to get coats to people who need them.”
“I’m excited for the kids to participate in this drive so they can see that what they do has a tangible effect on their community,” said Lauren Gillespie, Key Club faculty adviser at Patrick Henry. “I have had several students over the years that were homeless or were stuck in difficult situations and many of my students have friends who are in the same position. I want them to know that there are people their age who care about them and are willing to help.”
“I am so glad the community has embraced the vision of Happy Coats-giving so that no one in the Valley has to go without a warm coat this winter,” says Rescue Mission CEO, Joy Sylvester-Johnson. “Most of us have coats hanging in our closets that no longer fit, so giving these clean, gently worn coats away will warm the cold body of the one who receives it and warm the heart of the one who is able to give it. My hope is that we will have enough coats for everyone who comes to get one. We’re thankful to the Key Clubs for joining us in that effort.”
The Rescue Mission stopped accepting the “Happy Coats” donations on November 1st but new or gently used clean winter coats may ALWAYS be dropped off at the 4th Street Donation Center (421 4th Street) from 9am-5pm Monday-Thursday and Saturday or 9am-3:45pm on Friday. Donations can also be dropped off at Thrift 460 (3425 Orange Ave.) between 8am-6pm Monday-Saturday.
