Another successful Coat Drive for 2018 – Rudy Youth and Ruritan work together.

Over 200 garments were collected from the community.  Collection boxes were available for drop off at the Lucketts Elementary School and the Lucketts Community Center. Of the 200 coats collected most were adult but included some preschooler sizes and 4o for elementary school age children. Of the 40 children’s coats, 25 suited the gender and sizes that the school requested. The school requested a total of 37 coats. The Ruritan Club purchased an additional 12 coats plus gloves and shoes for all 37 children. The extra adult and preschool coats were provided to the families of the 37 children and to other families in Lucketts. Below are the pictures of 2018 volunteers organizing coats.

Handing out coat drive flyers to the community Handing out coat drive flyers to the community

Handing out coat drive flyers to the community

Handing out coat drive flyers to the community

2016 Rudy Youth Club Coat Drive – Big Success!

Thanks to the generosity of the Lucketts community, the 2016 coat drive sponsored by the Rudy Youth Club of Lucketts Elementary School, was a big success. The Rudy club was joined by the Lucketts Ruritan Club and together they collected over 225 coats and outer wear. The Rudys collected coats at school while the Ruritans collected at their Saturday trash/recycling service, at the Community center and at Lucketts Antiques Store.

The primary purpose of the drive was to collect coats for 51 Lucketts Elementary students determined by Lucketts Elementary staff to be in need of winter coats. The drive provided many of the coats needed by the students, many in like new condition and some even brand new! The Ruritan Club purchased additional coats to make up the difference along with new shoes and gloves for each of the 51 student.

In addition to the school age children’s coats collected, coats and other outer wear from toddler to adult were also received. These were donated to the families of the 51 Lucketts students and to other local charities to be given free to people in need this winter.

“We are so proud of our Rudy Youth Club members and their drive to help others. It demonstrates the commitment our community has to support our families in need. We could not do any of this without the strong partnership and support we receive from The Ruritans of Lucketts. Thank you so much!” Carolyn Clement, Principal, Lucketts Elementary School. “

The Lucketts Elementary School Rudy Youth Club was sponsored by the Lucketts Ruritan Club in 2014 and received their charter as an independent club from Ruritan National in 2015. The purpose of the Rudy Youth Club is to provide our youth the opportunity to support community needs, teach them to raise funds to support community projects and how to run a community service organization. And to have fun!!!

The club members identify and carry out projects that will make Lucketts a better place to live. The members have decided to focus on projects that will help people, help animals and help the environment.
There are 17 members in the club and they are led by Krystle Chapman a member of the PTA.
As the elementary age Rudys move on to middle and high school they can form Ruri-Teen clubs to carry on their community service mission.

Ruritan is the largest national community service organization in America. It was chartered in 1928 and has nearly 30,000 members that impact more than 1,100 local communities.

Below are a few of the pictures showing the success of this drive.

Handing out coat drive flyers to the community

Handing out coat drive flyers to the community

Stan

Stan loading the collected winter clothing

Just a small sample of some of the coats.

Just a small sample of some of the coats.

Boxes of clothing

Boxes of clothing

Inventory and sorting of the donated winter clothing.

Inventory and sorting of the donated winter clothing.