Coats for Kids a successful GVHBA initiative

Posted December 19, 2011 09:43 AM by Peter E. Simpson, President & CEO, GVHBA    

Warm-hearted individuals contributed more than 3,000 new and gently used coats, as well as scarves, mittens and new toys, to the 16th annual Coats for Kids campaign, presented by the Greater Vancouver Home Builders' Association (GVHBA) in support of the Lower Mainland Christmas Bureau, an organization whose outreach helps to provide a brighter Christmas for families in need.

The popular campaign ran from Nov. 21 to Dec. 9. In addition to the GVHBA office, 28 association members at 45 locations in 13 municipalities served as drop-off locations.

A repeat and enthusiastic participant was Kelly MacIntosh, acting assistant deputy warden at the Surrey Pre-Trial Services Centre.

MacIntosh contributed clothing last year, mostly coats his daughter and her friends had outgrown. This year, MacIntosh's co-workers at the B.C. Corrections Branch wanted to join the campaign.

Last week, MacIntosh and correctional officers Jim Pyke and Jose Domingo showed up at my office with 76 coats, 97 scarves, 49 pairs of mittens, 16 toques and an assortment of winter pants and boots.

The officers said all the scarves and 25 pairs of mittens were made by the inmates in the Surrey facility's tailor shop. The inmates also make baby blankets for distribution at transition houses.

All clothing from MacIntosh's Surrey group was donated to the Surrey Christmas Bureau.

Custody staff at B.C. Corrections take an active role in other community events, causes and organizations, including Cops for Cancer, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Ride2Survive, Haiti Relief, and the Cythera Transition House Society, which supports women and their children.

High-fives to the folks who participated in and donated to Coats for Kids, including elementary schools and sports teams. A cold winter is expected, so your generous contribution of clothing will keep warm many children, teens, men and women.

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