Kids’ Coat Collection

Day One was a beautiful day to start – but not one coat was donated. A few people did stop to say they didn’t know we would be there – but would bring coats and blankets back.

 Thank you, WalMart, for the box and for allowing us to set up outside the front entrance.

Around 6 PM the kids were starving, so I went inside and bought a loaf of bread, mayo, and lunchmeat, orange juice, yogurt, cheese and crackers for a picnic behind the box.

This is because there’s been ‘no’ publicity. I’ve contacted the local newspaper – and after two weeks and four contacts, finally got an email saying they would contact us to ‘do a story’ one day this week. Better late than never I suppose.

Day 2: About 2″ of rain! Since we set the donation box up outside the front entrance to WalMart, rain means we’re down until it stops. So, Day 2 – no donations.

Since we couldn’t set up at WalMart, we took the box they gave us and set it up inside Sav-a-Lot where it doesn’t have to be attended. The only place we could put it is going back toward the office. Not out where it’s easily seen. They really don’t have any other place to put it. But they let us put a poster up by the door telling customers coats and blankets could be donated ‘here’. Thank you, Sav-a-Lot!

Day 3: It’s still raining. According to the weather report, we’ve had about 2″ of rain since around 3 PM yesterday. It’s supposed to end by 4 PM today. We’ll try again if it does end. Still haven’t heard from the newspaper so I will call them again today.

I have to say I’m really disappointed with their response. We have kids trying to do something good that will benefit other kids in the community – and it’s apparently not newsworthy enough to put a few lines in the paper letting the community know when and where they can donate good, clean used coats.

I’ve lived in this community 60 years. I know beyond a doubt that the people of this community ‘will’ step up and donate coats and blankets – if they know we are doing it!

I’m also disappointed with the schools. Over 5000 children are known to be ‘economically disadvantaged’ in this area. But when I asked the school to send home flyers, I was first told no problem. I was ‘not’ told I had to provide the flyers at my expense, submit them to the superintendent for approval, and deliver them in bundles of 25.

Then – a few days before the project start date – when I called to tell them it was time to send flyers out – I was told they couldn’t send out flyers unless they were first approved by the superintendent and I delivered them to the schools in bundles of 25. Meaning of course, that I have to have the flyers printed up. $$$ If they had told me this a month ago when I first discussed it with them, I might have been able to raise the money for flyers, or get them donated, but not at the last minute. Lesson learned: Ask questions. Know the details. And don’t assume the school is interested in supporting students involved in community service projects – unless of course – the school gets money from it.

The explanation is that the school has to pay for each sheet of paper that goes through the copier ‘by the click’. Yes. Of course. And their ‘per click cost’ is less than the ‘per click cost’ at Staples.

I wonder how much it would have cost them to print a few lines in the school bulletins they sent home to tell us that our children are being trained as salespeople – selling $3.00 bread braids for $9.00 each – that the kids need a quarter each to buy a pin if they want to be allowed to wear a hat to school on hat day – that suckers to rot their teeth and put pounds on their bodies will be sold each day in the cafeteria – ad nauseum. And yes. They did know about this project in time to include it in the bulletin.

It’s supposed to rain a couple other days this week. Out of the seven days we planned, we’ve had rain for two already, and rain expected for two, maybe three, of the other days. I’m thinking we need a Plan B.

And I think the newspaper is going to help us with it! This is nonsense! If these kids were out fighting in the street the newspaper would be there with lights, cameras, and on the scene reporters to make sure it hit the front page. But when kids are doing good? Nada. Bull! This is not going to fly!