Warm hearts keep children warm through Coats for Kids

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Wes Carter
  • 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  "I used to walk 10 miles to school uphill both ways in two foot of snow." Everyone's grandpa has told this embellished story of his youth. But what most grandpas don't mention is that unlike many children today, he had a coat.

Unfortunately, children across the nation will endure winter weather without proper clothing. Airmen at Vance have an opportunity to ensure local children aren't among them.

"For the second year in a row, Vance AFB is teaming up with the nationwide winter charity Coats for Kids," said Master Sgt. Gary Rann, the 71st Operations Support Squadron Weather Flight chief. "Throughout the base there are coat-drop boxes where people can leave new or slightly used coats."

The drive, which is scheduled to last until Dec. 22, allows people to donate to a charity and know that 100 percent of their gift will be going to help someone.

There is no overhead to take from a coat, Sergeant Rann said. Not only is there no overhead, but it is seldom that any of the coats are leftover.

"This is a great opportunity to give a coat and know that a child will be warm because of your generosity," he said.

The only requirement for a coat to be dropped off is that it isn't torn and can still be used.

"It doesn't matter if the coat has been run through the mud," said Staff Sgt. Nicole Curran, Weather Flight mission services supervisor. "Every coat is taken to a local cleaner to be cleaned before it is distributed."

Today's children might not have to face the uphill roads that yesterday's children did, but not having a coat during an Oklahoma winter would make any road miserable.

Drop boxes are located at the Child Development Center, Youth Center, 71st Medical Group, 71st Flying Training Wing Headquarters, Base Exchange and the 71st OSS Base Operations building.