Coats for Kids gearing up for annual donation drive

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Shown is a previous year's Utah Knights of Columbus Coats for Kids distribution at St. Andrew Parish in Riverton.

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Knights of Columbus are seeking donations for their annual Coats for Kids program, which provides coats and, at times, other warm gear for children in need. It is the local effort in conjunction with the national Knights of Columbus program, which has been running for more than 20 years.

“The importance of the Coats for Kids program is that we want to put a warm coat on every child that needs one. We want every child in the state of Utah that needs a coat to have a new coat to wear during the cold winter months,” said Bob Masse, Jr., chairman of the Utah State Coats for Kids.

“Each year the need is greater,” Masse said, adding that last year the Utah Knights surpassed their goal, so they felt they needed to increase this year’s goal, and “we have almost doubled what we were able to accomplish last year.”  

Last year the Knights distributed more than 2,500 coats; these came from donations of new garments as well as from cash contributions of $17,000.  

“This year we increased our goal and throughout the whole state the councils have pledged over $27,000, which is enough to purchase more than 100 cases of coats,” Masse said.

The Supreme Knights of Columbus headquarters matches the local purchase, “so this makes it a total of over 200 cases,” or more than 4,800 coats, he said.

After the coats are acquired, the Utah Knights of Columbus councils will distribute the coats at different events throughout the state. They also will hand out gloves and hats donated by the John Wainscott family, “and some of the parishes distribute warm boots also,” Masse said. “We want to keep our children warm throughout this winter.”

The Utah Knights of Columbus are comprised of 37 councils and parishes throughout the state, and all benefit from this program, but some parishes and missions also work with other organizations. For example, in northern Utah, the Knights coordinate with Catholic Community Services to reach out to all the schools in that area, and the council at St. Rose of Lima Parish works with a non-denominational church, Masse said.

The Knights in Utah County work with the “Shop with a Cop” program, and “the Cedar City Knights work with the different religions to get the coats to anyone that needs one,” Masse added.

The Knights of Columbus would not be able to accomplish their goal each year without the help of these other groups, he said.

“I have worked with our Knights of Columbus state council leaders and want to thank everyone for their support to make the Coats for Kids program a huge success this year,” Masse said. “It has been rewarding to see the outpouring of generosity and love. ... This warms our hearts, especially when you see their [the kids’] smiles.”