Kelly Looby got a little emotional Thursday talking about the batch of new coats she was taking back to the kids at Neighborhood Youth Services (NYS), a program that works to help children develop to their full potential.
"A lot of the kids have jackets that are ripped or too small, or not warm enough; in some the lining is actually falling out," she said, noting that the program works with 500 local children over the course of a year. "This will be a huge help to us."
She got tears in her eyes talking about a boy who'd come in Wednesday evening with his zipper broken. She couldn't fix it for him, and it was really cold outside.
That little boy was definitely getting one of the new coats, Looby said.
The coats -- 700 in all -- came to Duluth courtesy of the Knights of Columbus Coats for Kids program. The fraternal order's Supreme Council purchased 7,800 coats from OshKosh B'Gosh and London Fog that are being distributed nationally.
ADVERTISEMENT
"Finally our reputation for cold and snow has paid off," said Mike Peplinski, Knights of Columbus district deputy.
A number of local organizations came to the Damiano Center Thursday morning to get coats to distribute to children they serve: Kids' Closet, Teen Clothes Closet, Salvation Army Social Services, Boys and Girls Club, NYS and Bethany Crisis Shelter.
Anyone with a child sized 7 through 16 who needs a coat should contact the organizations listed above.
