Drive works with Kennett Area Community Service to reach those in need
By Karen Cresta, Staff Writer, The Times
Unionville High School students Zach Kennedy, Taylor Nichols, Lainey Crosley, Francesca DiPlacido, Katy Frey, Elizabeth Koehler help kick off the annual Unionville-Chadds Ford Coat Drive.
EAST MARLBOROUGH – The 22nd year of the Unionville Chadds Ford School District (UCFSD) Coat Drive is underway and will continue until Dec 15. The goal is to provide winter coats and accessories for over 500 families and individuals who are less fortunate in the community.
The district has been involved with collecting coats and bikes for the Kennett Area Community Service (KACS) since the mid-90’s. Chairwomen of the UCFSD Coat Drive Committee Carolyn DiPlacido and Katie Nichols, co-chairs Bette Dobbins and Maria Sarver, and parent representatives from each school are charged with coordinating the collection and distribution of gently used and clean or brand new hoodies, coats, hats, mittens and gloves, snow pants and boots. All sizes from infant to adult are in need and gladly accepted at drop-off locations.
Every school in the UCF district participates and donated items can be dropped off in the lobbies where designated boxes are located. Landhope Farms on Route 82 is a highly-trafficked designated drop-off location as well.
KACS Executive Director Melanie Weiler receives names of local families and individuals from schools and social service agencies who need help during the holiday season and invites them to attend the distribution day event. In addition to the families being able to pick out winter wear from the coat drive, Weiler and her volunteers help put together baskets with food and turkeys for pick-up and delivery.
The recipients and the location of the event are kept confidential due to the sensitive nature of the identities of the families and individuals in need.
The UCFSD Coat Drive Committee will also be accepting cash donations to buy new items for the worthy cause and will be seeking vouchers from retail stores to shop for not only coats, but bikes, toys and food. The committee has a zero-based budget and is dependent solely on donations.
DiPlacido, who has been chairing the coat drive for the last five years, summarized the drive simply by saying, “It just comes down to everyone needs a coat on their back when it’s cold outside.” For the youth, who don’t necessarily want to wear a traditional coat, hoodies are a popular item for them and are also a great donation item.
DiPlacido described her favorite coat drive memory. “A man came up to the table a couple years ago and said, ‘I don’t think you will have a coat in my size.’ Marge Scharr, co-chair at the time, pulled an XXXL leather coat out of a bag she had sorted and put under the table. It fit him like a glove, matched his style, and it was clear the coat made his day.”
This year, Unionville High School (UHS) students pitched in and formed a club led by the daughters of the committee chairs, Francesca DiPlacido and Taylor Nichols. The students brainstormed for collection ideas, got the donation boxes ready, and utilized social media skills to keep the public informed and engaged. They will help sort through donations by size and gender in preparation of the distribution day to over 500 families and individuals in need. The students will also be organizing a bake sale or two and the proceeds will buy coats for infants and toddlers to fill the shortage for these sizes.
Students at Chadds Ford Elementary (CFE) also get involved with guidance counselor Lisa Yackel who leads a hat, mitten, and sock drive. The contributions will also be sorted by students and some will help with the distribution process.
The committee asks that from now until Dec. 15 to stop by any of the district schools and drop off your donations.
Nichols, on behalf of the parent committee and student club, voiced her gratitude to the community by stating, “We ARE truly grateful to our UCFSD families, and the surrounding community, for supporting the coat drive. Sometimes I think we – unintentionally – take for granted the fact that not everyone can afford to buy a new coat every year or buy toys for the holidays for their families. Just think what we could offer it every UCFSD family contributed an item or two.”
Inquiries about volunteering and information on where to send cash donations can be directed to ucfsdcoatdrive@gmail.com.
