The annual Kidz-N-Coats giveaway is gearing up for the biggest year yet

SIOUX FALLS, SD (Dakota News Now) – Kidz-N-Coats started more than 13 years ago thanks to a child who gave away his coats to classmates in need, then his parents saw the need for a coat donation and started buying new coats. . children in the community.

The shirt giveaway has grown each year since then, as this year the local nonprofit plans to give away a thousand new shirts to children throughout the area.

“They’re getting something new, it’s not my hand, it’s not something they’ve owned before, so it’s really important to us that they get that extra love that’s all theirs,” said organizer Teresa Blauet.

All coats were purchased with funds raised at the annual Kidz-N-Coats golf tournament in August.

Isaac Schmeling has helped organize the annual cover for many years, and while it’s always a lot of hard work, the smell says it’s definitely worth it.

“Every year when we start, we always think, ‘Is it going to be worth it? But at the end of it, when you see that kid that you have the opportunity to wear a shirt and see their smile and the difference that makes. you create, you know, it’s all worth it,” Schmeling said.

The group aims to give back by making the process much easier for families in need in the area.

“The only thing we ask is that people come with their children. We want to make sure they wear the coat, make sure the zippers work, and we want to make sure that after 2-3 weeks, the coats aren’t all of a sudden too small for them,” Schmeling said.

The annual shirt giveaway will be held Friday from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the downtown library parking lot.

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