Thursday, December 16, 1999
2,000 coats collected for needy kids
Fidelity sponsors program
BY CINDY SCHROEDER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
COVINGTON — At Fidelity Investments, so many workers wanted to help organize the Covington business community's “We'll Keep You Warm” coat drive this year, that a drawing had to be held to choose volunteers.
“I've always wanted to be involved in (the coat drive),” said first-year volunteer Chris Haddad, as she helped load coats into a volunteer's Jeep Cherokee Wednesday for transport to a local social service agency.
“It's nice to be able to help others this time of year,” the Fidelity project analyst said. “It kind of reminds you that there are a lot of people out there who are less fortunate than you.”
Organizers of the third annual “We'll Keep You Warm” coat drive for needy children and adults estimated they collected 2,000 coats during the 45-day campaign that ended Wednesday.
While this year's drive netted half as many coats as projected, organizers were already planning how to improve future campaigns.
“Next year, we anticipate getting started a little earlier,” said Jim Spurling, a retired Northern Kentucky banker and business owner who, along with Covington businesswoman Donna Sal yers, has organized the coat drive each year.
Ms. Salyers, owner of the Fabulous Furs fake fur business, was inspired to collect coats, when she glanced out her showroom window one winter day, and noticed coatless children headed to school.
She met Mr. Spurling by chance on the set of a local cable television show, where she was appearing to publicize the coat drive, and he was promoting the rescue of Old English Sheep dogs.
Ms. Salyers had hoped to collect 50 coats that first year. However, using Mr. Spurling's business contacts, they collected 450.
“I said, "Wow. Just think what we could do, if we really tried,'” Ms. Salyers said.
In their second year, they collected 4,000 coats, with the help of nine Northern Kentucky businesses.
Organizers say their goal is to immediately get the coats to one of three social service agencies — Brighton Center, Be Concerned, and Fairhaven Rescue Mission — or to Covington Independent Public Schools.
New to this year's drive were Toyota Motor Manufacturing North America, Inc. and the professional basketball team, Cincinnati Stuff, which offered a “Buy One, Get One Free” coupon for tickets to their December games for those who donated coats at the Firstar Center or any Firstar locations.
Jan Ising coordinates the Family Resource Center at Covington's First District Elementary School, where more than 80 percent of pupils qualify for free lunches.
“Sometimes the children come in, and they don't have warm clothes on, or a hat and gloves, or shoes,” Ms. Ising said. “There's also the broken zipper, or the coat that's too small. I commend (Ms. Salyers) for this initiative.”
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