Electrical Workers’ Minority Caucus collecting new, ‘gently used’ coats for kids, young adults

If you have any spare winter coats that you don’t need, either new or “gently used” please bring them to the Jan. 21 St. Louis Labor Council delegate meeting, 6:30 p.m. at the IBEW Local 1 meeting hall, 5850 Elizabeth Ave.

Members of the IBEW Locals 1, 1439 and 1459 Electrical Workers Minority Caucus (EWMC) are still conducting their annual coat drive to help children and young adults that are in desperate need of them for the winter but whose financial conditions are such that they can’t afford them.

“There is a real need, please help,” urged IBEW Local 1 delegate Vett Goods at last month’s council meeting.

SPARE CASH?

And if you want to help buy coats for children and adults who really need them this winter, you can send donations payable to EWMC and mail them to P.O. Box 21163, St. Louis, MO 63121.

Since the program began ten years ago, the Caucus has donated over 4,000 coats, both new and used. This year alone, thanks to the donations of members and organizations, they were able to purchase 400 new coats.

“If you have gently used coats, it would help if they are first cleaned,” Goods said, so that the Caucus doesn’t have to spend donated funds to clean them before donating them.

The coats are distributed through dozens of local organizations to include the Anne Malone Children and Services Center, Tandy Community Center, St. Vincent’s, ECHO, local city schools, several groups serving disabled children and many more.

“It’s never too late to give a child a coat, especially with the winter weather we are experiencing and expect to continue for many weeks to come,” Goods added.