blog home Community Outreach Thank you for giving more than 675 coats during our annual Coat Drive

Thank you for giving more than 675 coats during our annual Coat Drive

By Beth Gibson on January 15, 2020

Our generous community donated more than 675 coats during our annual coat drive. We gave many of the coats to the Gloucester Salvation Army, the Gloucester United for Emergency Shelter Team (GUEST), and the Hampton Veterans Administration Medical Center

Among this year’s highlights were Gloucester resident Krystal Hansford and her young daughter Harper bringing coats, hats, and gloves collected during their family Thanksgiving celebration; Gloucester County Sheriff Darrell Warren dropping off a huge box of coats from his office; and Edward Washington of First Morning Star Church in Bena donating more than 100 coats and sweaters from church members.

All donors were offered a GibsonSingleton ice scraper for their car. We also held monthly drawings from among donors for two The Ballast Band CDs. October’s winner was Kevin Gallagher; November was Nancy Dransfield; and December was Leah Walker. Then we drew for our grand prize, a roadside safety kit, and that winning donor was Geraldine Ban. Congratulations, winners!

Partner Ken Gibson delivered hundreds of the coats to the Gloucester Salvation Army, and Case Manager Lenora Lee received them with open arms. Gibson said, “I enjoyed delivering to the Salvation Army because they serve so many families in need, and all of their recipients are so appreciative.”

Partner John Singleton delivered more than 250 coats to the Hampton Veterans Administration. Singleton said, “It is always heartwarming to see how our community cares about our neighbors, especially veterans in need, many of whom are homeless.”

GUEST executive director Kristie Askew said: “We used donations from the GibsonSingleton drive to set up a coat closet, which we make available to all of our clients. I remember three women in particular who chose coats and said they found them so meaningful. They were overwhelmed with joy that there are people out there who care enough about them to meet their personal need for something warm to wear in the winter.”

We had set a goal of collecting at least 500 coats this year, and we were so pleased to surpass that goal. Singleton said, “Once again, the generous people in this area came through and gave more than we could ask for.”

Gibson concluded, “As we celebrate the start of 2020, we are grateful to have neighbors who give back. Our firm believes in giving back, and the coat drive is one way we try to do that.”

More info: Anyone still wanting to donate a coat may give directly to the Salvation Army, Gloucester Center, 7057 Linda Circle in Hayes. Their hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, and the phone is (804) 642-3960.

For any questions regarding GibsonSingleton’s community outreach programs, please contact Beth Gibson, Director of Community Outreach, at [email protected] or (804) 409-3538.