A reminder that the Broken Bow Elks Lodge No. 1688 10th Annual Winter Coat Drive is going on now through January 8.
Winter wear items can be dropped off for donation at the Custer County Chief, at 305 South 10th Avenue, in Broken Bow.
Any warm winter weather gear from coats, scarves, hats, and gloves, to socks, shoes and hoodies are accepted for donation.
Coat Drive Coordinators Paul and Becky Loy discussed the Coat Drive with KCNI/KBBN. Becky Loy explained that as what people wear in the winter has changed, so have the items available in the drive.
“It started out just to be coats,” she said. “But it’s turned into all sorts of winter wear stuff – scarves, mittens, gloves, boots. And we had one group tell us that teenagers don’t really wear a heavy coat. So hoodies are a better choice for that age group. So, something that I would think of as winter wear, maybe not what a 15-year-old would like.”
Those finding themselves in need of winter wear this year will be able to pick out donated items at Community Connection on the north side of the Broken Bow Square
“They have a separate area where they put these donated coats and any type of winter wear items,” said Loy. “And it’s upstairs, so it’s discreet. There is no charge for it. People can take their time and look through that area, you know, at their leisure or, with their kiddos. And the whole idea is that it just helps get people warm.”
Over the past 9 years, a total of 1,743 coats have been donated through the Elks Coat Drive. The Elks met their goal of 350 donated coats last year. This year the Coat Drive goal is 375 coats. The Elks Club Coat Drive, collecting all kinds of winter weather clothing is underway now.
