Letter to the Editor

Coats for Kids continues to meet big need

Friday, November 26, 2010
The Coats for Kids High School Football Team competition winners were the Cloverdale-South Putnam Team, which included Emma Young, Cody Warren, Ali Torr, Katherine Spencer, Mikayla Cherry, Kayla Pyne, Sadie Gaston, Tatiana Camacho, Chelsea Hughes, Cameron Mann, Chelsea Leach, Katie Arnold, Robert St. John and Brooke Gray

To the Editor:

On behalf of the Putnam County Youth Development Commission, we would like to thank the many individuals, businesses, industries, and schools that contributed to the success of our 11th annual Coats for Kids Campaign.

Over 800 coats were distributed at Harris Hall at the Putnam County Fairgrounds on Oct. 30.

Words cannot express our sincere appreciation for what your donations have meant to the program but more importantly for the children you've helped be prepared for the cold and snowy months ahead.

We are grateful to the many partners that join our efforts each year. Thanks to Kappa Delta Phi Sorority dedicating time and energy in decorating our "yellow boxes," our program continues to be recognized all across Putnam County. Wabash Valley Goodwill Industries of Terre Haute annually provides coat racks so our inventory can be displayed according to size and gender.

Jackie Baumann and the Putnam County Homemaker's Extension Club continue to facilitate the use of Harris Hall and have graciously shared proceeds from their Halloween fundraisers the last two years. Teena Bryant and the staff of F.B. Distro volunteer time to supply 400 new coats along with gloves and hats for each child.

A special thank you for the ongoing financial support that clearly provides our program with funds to purchase additional coats throughout the wintry season: Alpha Chi Omega Sorority, Phi Beta Phi Sorority, Phi Delta Theta Fraternity, Putnam County Republican Women's Club, United Way of Putnam County, Wal-Mart Distribution, Wal-Mart Supercenter and Hayes, Murphy, Sharp & Brackney Insurance.

Kappa Delta Phi Sorority decorated the yellow boxes used to collect coats for the 2010 Putnam County Coats for Kids Campaign. Sorority members pictured are Betty Thomas, Nora Stork, Loretta Maxwell, Marlene Masten, Mary Ann Saathoff, Fauneil Stewart, Shirley Dalton, Wanda Bitzer, Linda Freeman, Chuck Saathoff, Jim Maxwell, Gaylene Layton, Georgiana Bick and Carolyn Havlin.

Our sincere appreciation to athletic director Page Cotton and DePauw University for the use of their facility to launder our coats; the time and money saved is overwhelming. To the South Putnam Student Council representatives and Coach Micah Elliott and the Boys Basketball team, your continued involvement truly makes this event special.

Thank you Kappa Alpha Theta for willingly taking time out of your busy schedules to greet and assist our children find the perfect coat.

Congratulations to Cloverdale and South Putnam High Schools for winning our football competition the second year running, and to Greencastle and North Putnam for stepping up the competition this year. To all the elementary schools that joined the annual event; we're proud to announce Roachdale Elementary continues to be our "shining star." Students will be celebrating their victory with an ice cream party along with a visit from the National Night Out Knight.

Certainly we couldn't forget to thank all of our friends throughout Putnam County, we couldn't continue without you! And, to a special group of volunteers that eagerly donated their time to ensure each family had a positive experience: Samantha Richardson, Jessica Briones, William Merkel, Cindy and Ryan Scobee, Barbara South, and Pam Wade.

Look for the announcement of next year's campaign in early August. Have a wonderful holiday season and a safe and prosperous start to 2011.

On behalf of the children, thank you we are truly humbled.

Becky Brothers, Dominique Gibson Matt Demmings, Patti Harmless

and Linda Merkel

Coats for Kids Committee