Kids, adults receive gifts of warmth
GREENCASTLE -- Laura Goolsby of Reelsville didn't know what she would have done if she hadn't been able to get coats for her four children at the Putnam County Youth Development Commission's Coats for Kids distribution on Saturday.
"It would have been a rough winter," she said.
Goolsby brought her 10-year-old daughter with her to choose a coat, but had to take coats home to her three sons, ages 16, 11, and 7, because they were ill on the day of the distribution.
Goolsby is a single mother with a full-time job, and sometimes has a hard time making ends meet.
"This is a major, major, major help," she said. "I love that they do this. I don't have to worry about whether or not I'm going to be able to afford coats for my kids. Especially now, with the economy the way it is."
Ashley Albright of Greencastle is also a single mom. She is not working, and was growing desperate as the weather began turning colder and she knew she had no money to buy coats for her 6, 5 and 1-year-old sons.
"I was so relieved when I found out this was going on," she said. "I was calling everyone I could think of, trying to find anyone who had coats."
Albright's financial situation has forced her and her children to move in with her mother while she looks for work.
"I'm willing to do anything," she said. "I just want to find a job. It's horrible not working."
This was the 10th year for Putnam County Coats for kids. This year, coats were also available for about 250 adults who were in need.
"You just can't imagine the number of adults we had ask us if there was any way we could help them out with coats," said Linda Merkel, Putnam County Coats for Kids coordinator.
The youth development commission used a grant from the Greencastle Wal-Mart to purchase hats and mittens to give away with the coats.
In total, close to 700 coats were given away Saturday, Merkel said.
"We expected a lot of traffic this year because of the economy," she said.
Those who need coats for their children or themselves but were not able to make it to the distribution can call the Putnam County Youth Development Commission at 653-9342 to make arrangements to get them.