Sunday, January 19, 2025
15.0°F

Community drive garners hundreds of coats & hats

Mary Malone Staff Writer | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 8 years, 2 months AGO
by Mary Malone Staff Writer
| October 27, 2016 1:00 AM

photo

—Photo by MARY MALONE Abigail Chandler, 14 months old, shows off her new gloves and hat she picked out during the local Coats 4 Kids distribution event at the Bonner Mall Wednesday evening, hosted by Kris Crocker of KXLY.

photo

— Photo by MARY MALONE Brennan Odom, 5, tries on a new hat as his sister, 3-year-old Gwendolyn, looks through the pile trying to find the perfect one during the Coats 4 Kids distribution event at the Bonner Mall Wednesday evening, hosted by KXLY's Kris Crocker.

PONDERAY — Addi Morikawa was shy but determined Wednesday evening as she handed KXLY's Kris Crocker a $100 bill during the local Coats 4 Kids distribution event at the Bonner Mall.

The 6-year-old also donated five coats and two pairs of snow pants to Coats 4 Kids. Her "Nana," Jodi Brewington, said Addi saved her allowance since her last donation to Toys for Tots in December. Addi has been donating her money to worthy causes for a couple of years already, Brewington said.

"Addi won't let us buy her things out of her account," Brewington said. "She always wants to give it to someone else who doesn't have things ... she is a really, really sweet girl with a big heart."

Addi has $23 left in her account and a fishbowl full of change to begin saving for the next Toys for Tots donation.

Karen Battenschlag, area event organizer with Coats 4 Kids sponsor Tomlinson Sotheby's, said as of Monday, 503 coats, 46 hats, 23 pairs of gloves, 16 scarves, 21 snow pants, two pairs of snow boots and $330 had been collected.

At the start of Wednesday's event, Battenschlag said they were up to about 600 coats and hoped to see up to 800 donations by next week.

"We are so grateful for the donations — every one of them," Battenschlag said.

Donations were coming in slow but steady during the event, and anyone who brought in a coat between 5 and 7 p.m. was entered to win a pair of Seattle Seahawks tickets. The winner will be drawn Nov. 1.

Coats 4 Kids will continue to collect donations until Oct. 31, and distribution will continue at the Bonner Mall until Nov. 15 or when the coats are gone — whichever comes first. Anyone in need of a coat or other winter items can stop by the distribution center during regular mall hours.

MORE IMPORTED STORIES

Coats 4 Kids accepting donations
Bonner County Daily Bee | Updated 7 years, 3 months ago
Youth rallies classmates to raise $400 for Coats 4 Kids
Bonner County Daily Bee | Updated 7 years, 2 months ago
Kootenai student rallies classmates to donate
Bonner County Daily Bee | Updated 6 years, 2 months ago

ARTICLES BY MARY MALONE STAFF WRITER

Shotgun and drugs lead to arrests
October 6, 2016 1 a.m.

Shotgun and drugs lead to arrests

BONNERS FERRY — Two individuals were arrested after a shotgun and drugs were found following an alleged incident at Bonners Ferry High School.

Drones take off at Priest River Elementary
January 1, 2020 midnight

Drones take off at Priest River Elementary

PRIEST RIVER­ — Wearing their flight crew colors, the fifth-grade students walked side by side across the gymnasium to ensure the flight deck was clear of debris.

Mentoring foster kids & the art of fly fishing
August 6, 2019 1 a.m.

Mentoring foster kids & the art of fly fishing

SANDPOINT — Giving foster kids the opportunity to get out into nature and learn the art of fly fishing is a powerful therapeutic tool, allowing the youngsters to leave behind some of the stress while also building their confidence and self-esteem.