Coats 4 Kids drive brings warmth

Sterling Savings Bank presented the local schools with their collection of donated coats on Friday, Nov. 18. Sterling Savings Bank is a partner in the KXLY Coats 4 Kids drive that raised a total of 18,474 coats this year.

Chad Hoeft, Sterling Savings Bank branch manager presented the local school district representatives with the coats. The branch had a total of 120 donated coats this year.

Robert Roettger received the coats on behalf of both the Lind and Ritzville school districts while Theresa St. Hilaire collected the coats for the Washtucna school district.

“This is an awesome program. I want to thank the local donors, Sterling Savings Bank and KXLY for all of the contributions,” said Roettger. Lind and Ritzville school districts expect that 30-40 coats will go to kids, but more coats will go to each school in order to fill the future demand.

This year, the amount of coats donated to Coats 4 Kids is the second highest amount in the 26 years that the program has been running. KXLY congratulated Sterling Savings Bank for their contribution and success because while the community is small, the bank branch always has a large coat donation.

The amount of coats donated is also thanks to Martin Deeg, who donated $1,000 to the Coats 4 Kids fundraiser this year. Deeg said he wanted to do what he could to help and make a difference in the community.

All of the coats purchased are winter-ready coats, meaning they will provide warmth in any and all types of weather. There have been sweatshirts purchased but they will only be distributed if a child specifically asked for one.

“It’s good to see such a good response from the community,” said Hoeft. The staff at Sterling Savings Bank separated the coats by size and gender.

Hoeft delivered the coats to Lind and Washtunca schools on Monday, Nov. 21, to the delight of school staff at both locations.