Coats for Kids!

A little known fact that in 2019 20% of the children in Lucketts Elementary need a warm winter coat.

That fact motivates the Lucketts Ruritan Club to join with the Ruritan Rudy Youth Club to help provide the needed cold weather gear for youngsters in the Lucketts community.

Every late summer for the past six years the Ruritan Club has asked the community if they have gently used winter coats in any size but primarily for children. The community would rally by donating winter coats and jackets.

Over the course of the drive hundreds of coats are dropped off at one of several sites in Lucketts. The Lucketts Community Center, the Lucketts Elementary School and the Saturday morning trash & recycling service at the school each provide a box for drop off.

At the end of the two month long drive, coats are sorted and laundered by members of the Ruritan Club and Lucketts volunteers. A Lucketts Elementary School student liaison who understands the student body will provide the Club with a list of the ages, sizes and gender necessary to fill the order.

After the “big sort and clean”, the articles not needed are donated elsewhere.  The coats that are still required to fulfill the needs of students are purchased by the Ruritan Club from local stores and thrift shops. Each student is fitted with a new pair of sneakers, mittens/gloves, a hat and a new or gently used coat.

The families who are served come on a designated evening to pick up their children’ warm winter gear.

In years past the Ruritans and Rudy Youth have been pleased to accept all coats regardless of size. The special concentration going forward in 2019 is to provide coats to the little ones. These are the most underserved individuals. The sizes most needed are size 18 months to size 18/20.