Jackson Non-Profit Running Coat Drive For Students And Teachers

Jackson County non-profit Share To Care set to conduct its third annual Coat Drive to help children in need.

The Coat Drive and Share To Care Foundation were established in 2020 amidst COVID-19 to help financially struggling citizens. Share To Care Founder Cassie Kessler said the Coat Drive has continued since because of the great need for coats by children. Kessler said Jackson County is home to many citizens who are below the poverty line, which can make it hard to supply kids with fresh clothes.

“Winter coats every year are extremely expensive and can be an extra cost,” Kessler said. “And with kids growing out of them year, after year, after year, it just really benefits to have a fundraiser like this so we can make sure all the kids in the community are coated for the upcoming winter. It can get very cold here sometimes.”

Kessler said the Coat Drive or originally intended just to last for the year but returned after she saw the relief it brought and the consistent need. Kessler said that seeing kids wearing jackets that she knows she just helped supply is also a great reward for her efforts.

Kessler said the Coat Drive will be held Tuesday, November 21 at the Stolen Coin Bistro from 3 p.m. through 9 p.m. Kessler said anyone wishing to donate a coat outside of the Coat Drive can do so at the Stolen Coin, of which Kessler is an owner.

“Us being a new restaurant in the community in 2020 we wanted to make an impact and show the community that the Stolen Coin was committed to helping other than just opening a business here,” Kessler said.

Kessler said that many people do not consider of how the lack of supplies available to students can impact their teacher’s finances as well.

“The teachers are spending money out of their own pockets,” Kessler said. “They become like a second parent to these kids during the school year and if they see a kid coming in without a jacket or grown out of the jacket where it’s not really utilized for its correct purpose, they will go out and spend their own money.”