Have you seen a child or teen out in the cold without a winter jacket?
Maybe they forgot it at home. Maybe they’re being stubborn. Unfortunately though, there are some who don’t have a choice.
Murray Honda has teamed up once again with Canadian Tire for their biennial Coats For Kids program.
Through this program, they provide warm winter jackets to every child in Chilliwack who needs one.
In their first year, they partnered with the Chilliwack Bowls of Hope Society to provide coats to hundreds of kids at 17 schools.
Now, through their organizational partnership with the Chilliwack School District, they ensure that boys and girls at every school in the district have warm coats to wear.
“Kids are vulnerable,” said Darren Bosch, dealer principal at Murray Honda.
“It breaks my heart to think there’s children walking to school in the cold and rain without a proper jacket.
“It’s something we can fix. So why wouldn’t we?”
Murray Honda alternates between providing winter coats or boots year to year, as the apparel generally lasts each child at least two years. During the summer, they provide school supplies and backpacks to kids through the We Got Your Back program with Staples Chilliwack.
The retail value of these programs is closing in on $200,000, says Bosch, and has assisted thousands of kids in need. But they can’t do it without the support of the community.
John Boris, GM of Canadian Tire Chilliwack teamed up with Murray Honda last winter for their boot program, and was quick to agree to join forces for the coats this year.
“We immediately saw the value,” said Boris. “These coats are going to kids at every school in Chilliwack, so it was natural for us to get involved.”
Canadian Tire will continue to raise small donations at the cash register through December, and they will be holding a coat drop-off day on Saturday between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. at their Chilliwack location (7560 Vedder Rd).
The Coats For Kids program officially launched on Dec. 2 and will run throughout the month, but Bosch says that they hope to distribute at least 650 coats to the schools before the kids head out on their winter break.
A $35 dollar donation will sponsor the warmth of a child in need. Donations of any dollar amount can be made at Murray Honda or Canadian Tire.
Alternatively, you can drop-off a new or gently used coat to be distributed to kids and adults in the community through local centres and shelters. Donation bins are located at the Murray Honda Showroom, Ken’s Tire and Wheel, or Studio B Yoga.
Major sponsors of the Coats For Kids program include Chances Chilliwack, Ken’s Tire and Wheel, and Carstar Chilliwack.
