Boys & Girls Clubs Hosting Coats Drive
Fresno, Calif. – The Boys & Girls Clubs of Fresno County are now accepting new or slightly used jackets, hoodies and sweaters to be distributed Dec. 15 to many of its young members.
The clothes items are available for drop-off at the clubs’ main office, located at 540 N. Augusta in Fresno. A special curbside collection will also take place at Manchester Mall during Thanksgiving weekend. Sandra Dee Chaney, director of community relations/marketing and special events for the clubs, said the goal this year is to collect at least 500 coats.
“Most of our kids are from low income families who could otherwise not afford a slightly used or a new coat,” Chaney said.
The drive was originally started by a local motorcycle club that wanted to do something special for the youth at the clubs. They wanted to collect items for them that were not food or money.
“There was a need for coats,” Chaney said. “A lot of our kids here, their families cannot afford a coat for the winters, and we have what I want to call bad winters.”
There are 16 Boys & Girls Clubs in Fresno County, as well as one in Madera. Combined, they serve 12,000 youth ages 6-18. For more information on the 5th Annual Boys & Girls Clubs of Fresno County Coats Drive, call Sandra Chaney at (559) 266-3117.