Coats for Kids celebrates 8 years

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - The Coats for Kids drive is celebrating 8 years of keeping youth warm in Greater Lafayette.

This year coat drive coordinators said rounding up coats was hard because of tough economic times.

Cindy Fuller is one of many parents on a tight budget with growing kids.

 "They don't seem to have the same coat from last year. It doesn't fit anymore. If they're in good condition we try to donate them back," said Fuller.

Regina Wiliams is a Lafayette mother whose kids change their minds about coats every year.

 "They one year they might like pink and the next year they don't want to wear pink they want to wear blue," said Williams.

Fuller and Williams' stories are just two of many Lafayette families feeling a pinch this winter, that Hudlow's Dry Cleaners sympathizes with.

Jennifer Stewart manager of Hudlow's said, "There are many families out there, that do need help especially this year with the economy. Coats are the main thing that Hudlow's can provide, to the community to help keep the kids warm."

Stewart said this economy made it tough to raise donations, but she said community members were still very generous.

Hudlow's donation boxes received 630 coats. 50 of those were brand new.

"It makes the kids feel better, that they aren't wearing the same coat that they wore last year," said Williams.