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‘Coat’ Volunteers

Volunteers gather just before the start of the 3rd Annual Northeastern Connecticut K of C ‘Coats for Kids’ program in Brooklyn the day after Thanksgiving. Seven local K of C councils bought or collected more than 300 new and used coats for needy, local children and adults, giving them away on Black Friday. Photo by John D. Ryan.

 

BROOKLYN — A warm winter coat. Most people take wearing one for granted. Some people can’t afford to. That’s why several of the area’s local Knights of Columbus councils stepped in Nov. 25.

In the spring, seven of Windham County’s local K of C councils joined forces to buy or collect a total of more than 300 new and used coats for needy, local children and adults. Nov. 25 they sent volunteers to the Brooklyn Recreation Department’s offices to give them away.

“The Knights of Columbus live by the principles of charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism, and we demonstrated that today, right here in this room,” said Grand Knight Clifford C. Soucy, of Brooklyn, as he helped to pack up moments after the event ended. “It shows what Brother Knights can do when we work together to help people in our community.”

Working over several months, the seven local councils, covering an area from Ashford, east to Thompson and south to Plainfield, bought and donated specially-made, new, K of C, children’s winter “Coats for Kids.” At the same time, they collected used coats for adults and children, along with dozens of used blankets and boxes of used baby clothes, all clean and in good condition, so whole families could be helped.

Recipients received coats, blankets or other clothing solely on the basis of need, regardless of race, nationality or religion. In order to find recipients, organizers contacted local public and private schools and non-denominational social service agencies, asking them to invite needy people to come to Friday’s distribution event to be fitted for a coat.

And come they did. All morning families with children from towns throughout Windham County trooped in, with youngsters and their parents being fitted by Knights for coats and sometimes taking blankets, baby clothes, or both, to bring home. Most found the right sized coat and left wearing it happily, something Soucy said made it all worthwhile.