blog home Community Outreach Thank you for giving more than 640 coats during our annual Coat Drive this year

Thank you for giving more than 640 coats during our annual Coat Drive this year

By Beth Gibson on January 21, 2019

Our annual Coat Drive collected more than 640 coats from generous donors this fall.

We then gave many of the coats to the Salvation Army of Gloucester, the Gloucester United for Emergency Shelter Team (GUEST), and the Hampton Veterans Administration Medical Center, which serves many homeless veterans. This year, we also gave coats to LINK of Hampton Roads, which helps men, women, and children in crisis or with basic unmet needs.

One of the highlights of this drive was members of First Morning Star Church in Bena donating 45 coats all at once. Church members asked that the coats be offered to the GUEST program first, and it turned out that GUEST had some urgent needs, which could then be filled immediately.

GibsonSingleton partner Ken Gibson said, “All of the recipients, and particularly the GUEST clients, were so thankful to get warm coats in their exact sizes this year. The GUEST clients proudly put them on right away and said many times how much they appreciated those who gave.”

Partner John Singleton said, “It is always heartwarming to see how our community cares for our neighbors, especially children and veterans in need, and people who are homeless.”

Every person who donated a coat was offered a Christmas ornament or ice scraper from GibsonSingleton Virginia Injury Attorneys.

Our team 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 2019, we are grateful to have neighbors who give when there’s a need. 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, across from Franktronics. The hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, and the phone number is (804) 642-3960.