Help us play Santa to Indy’s kids in need

Once again, we’re teaming up with our friends at WISH TV-8 to provide Christmas gifts to area kids in need. As you’re out shopping for gifts for your loved ones, pick up an extra toy or two and drop it in one of the many WISHTree and Angel Tree collection boxes throughout the city. The Salvation Army will use that gift to make a child’s Christmas wishes come true.

We began accepting applications for Christmas assistance at the beginning of November. This year, we saw a 150% increase in requests in the first day! We need your help to meet the need. In 2008, we were able to help over 900 families through the support of our community. With so many more in need, we know our goal has to be higher – you can help.

We’ll be collecting toys throughout the city from now until December 14. You can also host a collection drive at your office or storefront. Just give Crissy a call at 224-1017 and we’ll get a collection box to you right away! You can also bring a toy to the WIBC Radiothon on December 12 on Monument Circle. Or even drop off a toy on the way into the December 13 Colts game at Lucas Oil Stadium. (The folks at WISH TV-8 will be passing out Colts collector posters to all who donate that day.)

If everyone gives what they have, no one goes without!

Fans donate coats, cash to kids in need

Colts fans stepped up in a big way by donating over 2,100 coats and $7,100 to Coats for Kids on their way into Lucas Oil Stadium for the Colts vs. Seahawks game this past weekend.

Thanks to all of the staff and volunteers from WTHR-13, Tuchman Cleaners, and our own Salvation Army team for their dedication to keeping kids warm this winter! Continued thanks to the fine folks at Two Men And A Truck who gathered and delivered all the coats to Tuchman for cleaning.

The 23rd annual Coats for Kids distribution will be this Saturday, October 10 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. Last year, more than 4,200 kids received coats through Coats For Kids, an increase of 15% over the previous year. And, this year the need is expect to be even greater due to the poor economy and a rise in unemployment.

There’s still time to help. You can give a kid a new coat by making an online donation. Or, you can take your new or gently used coats to any area Tuchman Cleaners through the rest of today.

Help Bob help kids

We’re about half way there, but we need your help! The coat count is in and we’ve collected about 2,500 coats for Indy’s kids in need. That’s a great start, but far from the total we’ll need to meet the growing need. Last year, we distributed about 4,000 coats to families at Distribution Day.

There are several ways you can still help.

• If you’re a parent, please check your closets at home for gently used coats that your kids no longer need. And please encourage your friends and family to do the same. You can drop off coat donations at any Tuchman Cleaners through Monday night.
• Make a donation on-line here. We’re partnering with Burlington Coat Factory again this year to shop for coats during special discounted hours.
• Bring a coat or a monetary donation to Sunday’s Colts game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Volunteers and staff from WTHR-13 and The Salvation Army will be collecting outside the stadium.
• Volunteer to set-up for Coats for Kids by calling Elizabeth at 224-1010. It takes an organized team to distribute thousands of coats.

Hoosiers have never let their neighbors in need down. We’re counting on our community to come out in full force to make sure that no kid goes without a coat this winter. Thanks for your help!

Help out with Coats for Kids

Can you believe this year marks the 23rd year for Bob Gregory’s Coats for Kids? It’s true! Monday, September 7 marked the official beginning to the coat collection drive! We’re anticipating a much greater need for coats this year than ever before – in all sizes from infant to teen – so please be sure to bring (and encourage your neighbors, friends, family and churches to bring) new or gently used winter coats to any of the following locations:

• Tuchman Cleaners (25 area locations)
• Apple Fest – Thursday, October 1st on Monument Circle
• Lucas Oil Stadium – Sunday, October 4th

I know it’s still warm outside now, but it won’t be for long. We need to get winter coats to children who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford one, before the chilly air hits. Before the first snow of the season. Before the 2 hour windchill delays.

If you would like to volunteer for this incredible event we can use all the help we can get (especially with set-up), call Elizabeth at 224-1010. Without organization, Distribution Day can’t happen.

1,300 coats – nothing to be blue about

We were a little concerned – the weather was in the 80s and we were asking for winter coats. But Indy never lets us down – we collected nearly 1,300 coats yesterday at Lucas Oil Stadium!

Our long-time friend, Bob Gregory brought his WTHR family out to meet, greet and collect coats for our city’s families in need. I had the pleasure of spending the afternoon with Bob, Chuck and Mary Lofton and Angela Cain as fans dropped off coats and posed for camera phone pictures with a news team that seems like family.

We were touched by how many Colts fans pushed through the crowds to drop off a brand new coat or throw a few bucks in the kettle. It was shoulder to shoulder right at 4pm, so fans passed bags through the crowd. Angela and I would just yell “thank you” into the sea of blue, and fans would shout back “no, thank you!” Not too easy to remember to grab a parka when you’re wearing a t-shirt, so thanks to all of you Colts fans who donated coats or cash to make a difference in your city.

And since we couldn’t do this without our business community - we’ld like to take a moment to thank our partners. 

 - Thanks to Bob Gregory for being the face of Coats for Kids year after year. And thanks to the team at WTHR for giving us a few hours on your day off.

 - Thanks to Mike and the crew from Tuchman Cleaners who came out with carts and signs and for cleaning all these coats in time for distribution.

 - Thanks to the guys from Two Men and a Truck for loading nearly 1,300 coats into their truck on the street outside the stadium (and for taking them all to Tuchman’s for cleaning).

 - Thanks to the event staff at Lucas Oil Stadium for allowing us to collect before the game and for being such gracious hosts.

 - And, thanks to all of our volunteers who stood in the blazing sun to accept donations.

And to those of you who have not had the opportunity to donate, there’s still time to help.

 - Drop off a new or gently used coat at area Tuchman Cleaners through October 6th.

 - Want to take up a collection at your office? Let us know and we’ll arrange for a pick-up. 

 - Don’t have a coat/the time to buy one? You can donate online - your $25 donation will purchase a brand new coat for a little boy or girl this winter.