By:Erin Sauder – Elgin Courier-News
While hats, gloves and warm coats are winter wardrobe staples for most, not all children have access to them. Every year the Rotary Club of Carpentersville-Morning tries to fill the void by partnering with Operation Warm to provide hundreds of children in the Carpentersville community with new winter coats. Made out of 100 percent recycled material, the outerwear is paid for through various fundraising events held by the Rotary Club.
“We enjoy it,” club President Charlie Nason said. “We work all year round to raise funds to do things like this.”The club enlists the help of Community Unit School District 300 social workers and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dundee Township to help determine the need, with the first distribution event being held Wednesday at Perry Elementary School.
Students were allowed to choose the color coat they wanted, much to the delight of 8-year-old Citlaly Martinez, who attends the Boys & Girls Club at Perry Elementary School.
“It’s pretty awesome,” she said of her new blue coat. “This is my favorite color.”
The Rotary Club of Carpentersville-Morning began the Operation Warm program in 2009
“We know we’re blessing these children but frankly, we get way more out of this,” Nason said. “Seeing their faces. We end up being the ones who are blessed.”
The Rotary Club personally delivered over 200 new coats to members at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dundee Township’s six elementary school locations.
For more photo of the the coat distribution click here: 2017 Operation Warm
