WBRZ - Baton Rouge

Helping needy children stay warm in our community
 
With the cold weather quickly approaching, WBRZ News 2 Louisiana will kick off their annual “Pat’s Coats for Kids” coat drive. Beginning Monday, November 2 through Saturday, November 28, 2009, “Pat’s Coats for Kids” will collect any child’s size coat or monetary donation for needy children in our area. 

In 21 years, “Pat’s Coats for Kids” and the Baton Rouge community have together collected more than 170,000 coats to meet the challenge of keeping the children in our area warm during the winter.  New or clean used coats may be dropped off at any location of the YMCA of the Capital Area, Neighbors Federal Credit Union, or Coldwell Banker One.  Children and adult sizes are needed.  

If you do not have a coat to give you can still help; monetary donations are accepted.  Checks can be made out to “Pat’s Coats for Kids” and mailed or dropped off at WBRZ-TV, 1650 Highland Road, Baton Rouge, LA, 70802, or any location of Neighbors Federal Credit Union.  Monetary donations may also be made by credit card online at wbrz.com.

According to Chief Forecaster Pat Shingleton, co-founder of “Pat’s Coats for Kids”, this year your monetary donations will go even further. For a donation of $20, a new coat can be purchased through Operation Warm in Chadds Ford, PA.

“Recently we experienced some cold mornings,” said Chief Forecaster Pat Shingleton.  “As your weatherman, I know that we are going to experience many more.  As the spokesman for “Pat’s Coats for Kids” for 21 years, I’m repeating a message that asks for your assistance.  Thanks for your support over these 21 years with hopes that many kids will be warmer over the next four months.”

To receive a coat, a child must be on a list turned in by a public school counselor.  Parents should contact their child’s school counselor immediately if their child needs a coat.  WBRZ’s “Pat’s Coats for Kids” supports schools in the following parishes: Ascension, Assumption, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, St. Helena, St. Mary, West Baton Rouge and West Feliciana. 

Additionally, WBRZ will host the second annual “Pack the Pod” day on November 19, 2009, at the Wal-Mart on College Drive.  Together we will attempt to pack a portable-on-demand storage unit with new coats, used coats, and monetary donations.   The “Pack the Pod” event will be aired throughout the day on WBRZ Channel 2’s 2une In, noon, 4pm, 5pm, and 6pm newscasts, with a recap at 10pm.

POD’s, The Boy Scouts of America Istrouma Area Council, and the Baton Rouge Chapter of St. Vincent de Paul are partnering with WBRZ to handle the storing, sorting and distribution of the coats. For more information, visit wbrz.com

WBRZ’s “Coats for Kids” is sponsored by Coldwell Banker One, Neighbors Federal Credit Union, PODS, St. Vincent de Paul, and The Boy Scouts of America Istrouma Area Council.