Family Focus

West Charlotte High School students donate coats for kids in need

West Charlotte High School donated dozens of coats to the Steve’s Coats for Kids drive.

WSOC-TV’s Steve’s Coats for Kids campaign is part of the Channel 9 Family Focus brand and was introduced in 2005. Steve’s Coats for Kids runs through Dec. 31, 2021.

The West Charlotte High School professional learning community program has served many homeless and struggling families. The school promoted the drive as a schoolwide service-learn project.

“We want our scholars to understand service learning. We also want our scholars to understand that our partners are invested in us and we want them to continue to help us with our leadership development,” said Tamara Glover, career development coordinator at West Charlotte High School.

Steve’s Coats for Kids has collected nearly 250,000 coats, and every donated coat spends less than 48 hours in the Crisis Assistance Ministry Free Store before benefiting someone in need.

During the winter months it can get pretty chilly. At WSOC-TV, our aim is to keep children warm.

Our 18th annual Steve’s Coats for Kids drive is underway.

“Most of our scholars have received assistance from the salvation army and crisis (Crisis Assistance Ministry). When our students realized that Steve’s Coats for Kids donates their coats they said ‘well they’ve helped us. We want to give back.’ They wanted to give back to an organization who helped them,” Glover said.

An independent nonprofit agency, Crisis Assistance Ministry focuses on preventing homelessness and preserving dignity for Charlotte-Mecklenburg’s working poor — providing assistance with rent, utilities, clothing and furniture.

This campaign has been brought together through various partnerships and our 9 Family Focus sponsors, which include Arby’s, Ashley HomeStore, Carolina Panthers, Charlotte Gastroenterology & Hepatology, and E.R. Plumbing Services.

There are over 100 collection points across the Carolinas, including Arby’s, Ashley HomeStore, E.R. Plumbing Services and all Charlotte fire stations.

CLICK HERE FOR ALL DONATION LOCATIONS

Learn more about how your donation can impact the community at www.StevesCoatsForKids.com.

If you have an inspiring story, please contact Kevin Campbell, WSOC-TV/WAXN-TV/Telemundo Charlotte public affairs manager, at Kevin.Campbell@wsoctv.com.