BRATTLEBORO — The United Way of Windham County (UWWC) is supporting Windham County families with warm winter gear through its Kids in Coats Fund, which was created after the Reformer Christmas Stocking ceased operations in the fall of 2015.
UWWC has set a fundraising goal of $75,000 and all donations made will directly support the purchase of winter gear for Windham County families with children age 0 through grade 6 this fall. The number of children served will depend on the amount of funds raised.
Community members have already donated nearly $15,000 to the fund and donations of any size are welcome and appreciated. To make a donation, visit www.unitedwaywindham.org for a donation form. As with the previous program, all donor messages will be published in the Brattleboro Reformer.
In the fall, eligible families will apply for winter gear assistance through referral sources, such as schools, health and human service organizations, and state offices. “We see first-hand the need for winter gear among our students,” said school counselor Carole Rayl of Vernon Elementary School, a member of the Kids in Coats committee, “and the school staff and families appreciate every effort made by the community to support warm winter gear for children.”
Donations to the Kids in Coats Fund can be made by texting “toasty” to 41444 or by mailing a check made out to UWWC to P.O. Box 617, Brattleboro, VT 05302 with “coats” in the memo line. Donations can also be dropped off at the Brattleboro Reformer office at 62 Black Mountain Road or the United Way office at 1 Holstein Place, both in Brattleboro.