BRATTLEBORO — The winter chill is already upon us, and United Way of Windham County (UWWC) is supporting local families with warm winter outerwear through its Kids in Coats Fund.
Community members make Kids in Coats Fund possible. In its third year, UWWC received 265 applications for more than 600 eligible children in Windham County for the program.
Families apply from September through mid-October via their human service provider or the child's school. UWWC distributed $30,050 worth of vouchers this year, which served 473 children - newborns through 6th graders - with vouchers ranging in value from $50 to $100.
Recipients may use the vouchers at participating local thrift and retail stores.
The need for assistance from Kids in Coats Fund in Windham County continues to outweigh the resources available at UWWC to serve every eligible family that applies.
You can help support United Way of Windham County Kids in Coats Fund:
• Make a secure donation online: unitedwaywindham.org/kidsincoats.
• Mail a check to UWWC, PO Box 617, Brattleboro, VT 05302 with “Kids in Coats” in the memo line.
• Text “Snowy” to 313131 to donate
• Drop a monetary donation off during business hours at the UWWC office, 1 Holstein Place, Brattleboro, VT.
• Donor messages will be printed weekly in the Brattleboro Reformer.
Throughout the next couple of months, these community events will benefit the UWWC Kids in Coats Fund:
• Putney Road Redemption Center: Show your support through the whole year by asking to donate your bottle refund to United Way of Windham County Kids in Coats Fund.
• Giving Tuesday, Nov. 27: Help UWWC reach the goal of 100 donors at $75 each, or 100 Kids in Coats vouchers.
• Dining for a Cause: Tuesday, Nov. 27 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m, join UWWC at the 99 Restaurant in Brattleboro. Fifteen percent of all guest checks will be donated to the fund. Visit unitedwaywindham.org or UWWC's Facebook page to download and print an event voucher to present to your server that night.
• Brattleboro Sunrise Rotary Club Trivia Night on Monday, Feb. 11, 2019, at 6:30 p.m. at the American Legion, Brattleboro: Bring a team of four to six players, or show up to join a team. All ages are welcome. Admission is $20, which includes dinner and a donation. A cash bar will be available.
Eleven local stores accept the Kids in Coats vouchers and eight of them are resale/thrift stores.
“We encourage the community to donate your gently worn children's winter outwear - boots, winter socks, coats, snowpants/snowsuits, hats, gloves/mittens, and scarves - to these stores so that they have plenty of inventory for families,” writes Cody Chase, prosperity programs coordinator, in a news release.
Participating stores include:
• Experienced Goods Thrift Shop (77 Flat St., Brattleboro)
• Love It Twice (464 Putney Rd., Brattleboro)
• Whippersnappers (896 Putney Rd., Brattleboro)
• SEVCA Good Buy Thrift Store (45 Rockingham St./Canal House, Bellows Falls)
• Second Chance Shoppe (126 Grafton Rd., Townshend)
• West Townshend Country Store Thrift Store (6573 Rt. 30, West Townshend)
• Twice Blessed (45 Rt. 100 North, West Dover)
• Busy Bee's (17 Rockingham St., Bellows Falls)
Northeast Mountain Footwear, Label Shopper and Sam's Outdoor Outfitters in Brattleboro also accepted Kids in Coats vouchers.
For more information, visit unitedwaywindham.org or call 802.257.4011.