Winter coats are being collected for students who are enrolled in the YMCA after-school program and who live in recessed neighborhoods of the Richmond area through a new program that thrives off the donations of students and the Richmond community.
This is the first year VCU’s Caring to Act program has teamed up with the YMCA according to VCU Community Development Coordinator Ronald Brown.
“The VCU Caring to Act program adopted the kid’s winter coat drive event after the need for winter coats was expressed by the YMCA of Richmond,” Brown said.
According to Tito Luna, YMCA’s vice president of community development and programs, the goal of the winter coat drive is to collect as many coats as possible and help as many needy families as possible.
VCU’s Caring to Act winter coat drive began in early November and will last until early December.
The winter coat drive will have eight drop-off locations throughout the Monroe Park and MCV campuses. The Monroe Park alumni house and the University Student Commons are two of the eight drop-off locations for the coat drive.
The anticipated goal for the coat drive is to collect at least 200 coats new and gently used coats from sizes eight to 18 for boys and girls, Brown said.
According to Luna, each donated coat will be given out during the third week of December, just in time for Christmas.
“Every coat donated will go to a family who really needs it for the winter,” Luna said.