This was my first year giving out coats with the cozy coats for kids program. Since it was my first year I was unsure about how to go about getting the names and sizes for kids in need. I only ended up with a few names but I learned a lot of lessons and I think I can do better next year. I sent the names in with an Excel spreadsheet to the cozy coats team.
Before that I had lots of questions about sizing etc and they were very prompt about answering all my questions.
Before I expected, the boxes started to arrive at my house.
Each box was labeled with my name and the children’s names. Each coat had a tag on it with the child’s name. They made it so easy for me to get organized and I really appreciate that.
Then it came time for me to deliver the coats. I called each family and made an appointment to come by their house to give the kids their coats. The families were very appreciative and even the kids were very polite and excited to get their coats. I live in a very rural area with a lot of extreme poverty. Many of these families have children with disabilities who are living oftentimes with grandparents who have little financial ability to support them. Every time I left a house I had tears in my eyes.
Thank you Nick Gromico for this wonderful opportunity to fill my heart with love and gratitude and empathy for those less fortunate than me.
There was one particular family with three children being cared for by a grandmother on a walker and on oxygen. The oldest preteen girl was a big girl. Her two younger brothers were disabled. The older one extremely hyper and the youngest one very mentally disabled to the point where he could not speak and could hardly walk. I know this preteen girl had a lot of responsibility to care for her younger brothers. She was so meek and demure and when the coat I pulled out was very small for her she turned away from me to cover the fact that she had tears in her eyes and was embarrassed because she was too big for the coat.
I contacted Maggie Aey and she was right on it. She immediately ordered another coat and a larger size and it came in a couple of days. However, when I pulled it out of the box I realized the weird Chinese sizing was way too small. This 2XL jacket would not even fit me and I am 150 lb in a size 10. I immediately contacted Maggie again and she was all over it again to make it right. She sent me a return label and also ordered another jacket from Kohl’s to be delivered immediately. I got the jacket and a few days and it was absolutely fantastic. I delivered that jacket last night and this young preteen girl was so incredibly happy. She glanced down at the tag that was still attached to the sleeve that said $150 and her eyes got so big and she gasped and stared at me. I think that was probably the most expensive thing she has ever been given in her life. It was a double jacket with an inner coat that could be taken out. A fantastic very high quality coat. And it fit her perfectly. That girl deserved that coat.
The grandmother sitting in the chair with her walker on her oxygen looked at me and I could see in her eyes how much it meant to her also.
This program is absolutely phenomenal and I highly encourage everyone to not only give money for these jackets but to get involved in your local community and find children in need. They are out there and they need you.
