The beet

Whitsons’ 2nd annual Coats for our Communities Drive was a huge success, with 550 coats collected and donated by 15 participating location teams to non-profit organizations in their communities through the Enhancing Life Program initiative.

The team in Easton Area School District, PA participated for the second straight year and led the way with an astounding 154 coats donated to Communities in Schools of Eastern Pennsylvania. In Groton-Dunstable Regional School District, MA, the team collected 62 coats for The Wish Project in their first year participating. The team in CREC, CT also participated for the second consecutive year, donating 49 coats to Community Partners in Action.

This year, 13 teams participated for the first time between October 10 – November 22, meaning that a total of 24 location teams have participated in the first two years of the Coats for our Communities Drive to help make a meaningful impact throughout many communities Whitsons serves.

The location teams who participated this year for the first time to support non-profit organizations in their community include:
Attleboro Public Schools, MA in support of the Attleboro Public Schools District Pantry
Easton Public Schools, MA in support of Salvation Army – Canton
Fairfield Public Schools, CT in support of Liberation Programs of Bridgeport
Groton-Dunstable Regional School District, MA in support of The Wish Project
Killingly Public Schools, CT in support of Killingly Family Resource Center
LEARN, CT in support of Homeless Hospitality Center – New London
Oxford Public Schools, CT in support of My Sister’s Place
Pleasant Valley School District, PA in support of Pleasant Valley Ecumenical Network
Shelton Public Schools, CT in support of Shelton Youth and Family Services
Timberlane Regional School District, NH in support of I Got Bridged
Tyngsborough Public Schools, MA in support of The Wish Project
Wallkill Central School District, NY in support of St. Charles Church – Gardiner

In two years of the Coats for our Communities Drive, the 24 location teams who have participated have combined to collect and donate 1,248 coats. While the number of coats is impressive, ultimately the number that matters most with this Enhancing Life Program initiative is ONE. For every coat collected and donated helps one person facing hardships stay warm this winter.

In partnership with One Warm Coat, whose mission is to provide free coats to children and adults in need while promoting volunteerism and environmental sustainability, Whitsons is extending the Coats for our Communities Drive into December as part of our next Enhancing Life initiative, Enhancing Life at the Holidays. This will allow more teams opportunities to #ShareWarmth this winter with people in need in their communities. The need for warm coats is greater than ever before, and the Coats for our Communities Drive is one way all location teams can continue to embody the Whitsons Way throughout the Holiday season and the Enhancing Life at the Holidays initiative.

Click here to view the photos.

Location teams interested in holding a Coats for our Communities Drive may contact Randy Brochu, Community Engagement Manger, at brochur@whitsons.com.