Coats for Kids: 26 Years of Keeping Our Community Warm
For the 26th consecutive year, Norfolk Sunrise Rotary has organized Coats for Kids, helping keep individuals and families in our community warm as the colder weather arrives.
Our philosophy is simple: There are no eligibility requirements. Just come! We don’t ask how many coats you need or why you need them. Take what you need, and take one for your neighbour if they could use it, too. Everyone is welcome.
Working in partnership with local dry-cleaning business Peerless Cleaners Ltd., we collected and cleaned nearly 800 coats, ensuring they were ready for the community on Saturday, October 24.
Coats weren’t the only items available. Local knitting groups generously contributed approximately 200 sets of handmade hats and mittens, along with lap blankets, adding an extra layer of warmth and comfort for those who needed them.
The community response was remarkable! Families began arriving as soon as the doors opened at 9:00 a.m., and just 35 minutes later, we were almost completely out of coats. It was a wonderful reminder of both the need in our community and the importance of this annual initiative.
Any remaining coats were distributed to local organizations, including the pregnancy centre, homeless and warming shelters, the Mennonite Relief Centre, the Women’s Shelter, and other charitable organizations, ensuring that the generosity of our donors continued to benefit those in need.
After 26 years, Coats for Kids remains a true community effort. We are grateful to our donors, volunteers, community partners, and local knitting groups who continue to make this project possible. Together, we are doing more than distributing coats—we are helping our neighbours stay warm.
