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More Than 4300 Coats Distributed To Las Cruces Area Children

The 19th Annual Coats for Kids project distributed 4,322 children’s jackets at this year’s event at the Convoy of Hope. Long-term partners include Community Action Agency of Southern New Mexico (CAASNM), USBank, Comet Cleaners, Gold 101, and D2 Design.

Local businesswoman Karen Bailey, a Vice President with USBank, has served as project coordinator for many years. “We have distributed over 35,000 coats to children from newborn through the 5th grade since the program began in 1995,” Karen says. “This program would not be successful without the generosity of the Las Cruces Community.”

Coats for Kids is an annual event that gives low-income children an opportunity to register for and receive new or gently used winter jackets. CAASNM staff coordinate with school social workers and counselors in the Las Cruces, Gadsden, and Hatch school systems to identify children aged 12 and under who are eligible. 2,812 children were pre-registered through their schools; because of the partnership with Convoy of Hope, volunteers were able to distribute a total of 4,322 coats, just in time for the snowy winter weather that day.