2014 Warm Coat Program

The Redlands Service Club Council, University of Redlands, Redlands Unified School District, and Women of Faith Redlands are once again collecting coats and other warm clothing for those in need for their 6th annual Warm Coats Program. The community is invited to join in the effort. Total donations for each of the past five years have been between 2,200 and 3,400 items. Even with warm temperatures, it’s not too soon to prepare to provide for chilly times ahead. Donations of clean and new or gently used coats, jackets, sweaters, boots, hats, gloves, scarves, blankets, quilts and sleeping bags are welcome. Donations will be accepted at participating schools through Nov. 12 and community locations through Dec. 5. This week all public schools in the district as well as Grove High School and Middle School have joined the 10 community locations that are already collecting. All donations will be sorted and processed by Women of Faith Redlands at their regular humanitarian workdays on Nov. 13 and Dec. 11. Volunteers wishing to help sort donations and/or take a bag home to launder are welcome to come on those days between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 350 N. Wabash in Redlands. Organizations receiving the warm items are: Family Service Association, Youth Hope, Fire and Burn Foundation, Angel’s Closet, and Step by Step. Family Service Association will receive the bulk of the items where clients will select coats from racks set up at the annual Christmas parties. Youth Hope, an organization which serves at-risk and homeless teenagers, will receive hoodies and warm sweatshirts. Women of Faith will provide handmade hats for each youth. Some of the warmest coats and snow wear will be donated to the Fire and Burn Foundation (formerly the Burn Institute-Inland Empire) for children recovering from severe burn injuries who plan to participate in Camp Beyond the Scars at Big Bear next February. Women of Faith will add crocheted caps and scarves for each child and a handmade quilt for each new participant. For the first time, Angel’s Closet, an organization which assists high school and middle school-aged youth from low-income families, will be a recipient and also receive handmade hats. Step by Step, a community coalition committed to the successful re-entry of parolees into community life, will receive items for select parolees and their families who are chosen by their parole agent. Those who wish to donate may drop off items at any of the following locations: Redlands Unified School District, all elementary and secondary schools Grove High School, 200 Nevada St. Grove Middle School, 11126 Iowa St. Redlands Unified School District Office, 20 W. Lugonia Ave. RUSD Student Services/Special Services, 33 W. Lugonia Ave. YMCA, 500 E. Citrus Ave. 24 Hour Fitness, 700 E. Redlands Blvd. Boy Scouts of America, 1230 Indiana Ct. Girl Scouts of America, 1751 Plum Ln. Joslyn Senior Center, 21 Grant St. City Clerk’s Office, 35 Cajon St, Ste 1 Smiley Library, 125 Vine St. Pure Gold Dentistry, 303 Brookside Ave. University of Redlands Administration Building, 1200 East Colton Ave. University of Redlands Volunteer Center, 1200 East Colton Ave. Redlands Community Center, 111 W. Lugonia Ave. Redlands Community Senior Center, 111 W. Lugonia Ave. Redlands Adult School, 820 W Stuart Ave. For more information or to request a collection box for your school, preschool, organization, or business, please contact Jean Arnott at 909-794-0456, jeanarnott@gmail.com; Monica Zollinger at 909-798-9519, curlyhorns@yahoo.com; or University Of Redlands Student Volunteer Center at 909-748-8463, Volunteer_Center@redlands.edu.