Club is collecting coats for the needy

Tuesday, 29 December 2009 00:00

The Keystone Club of the Redding Boys & Girls Club is  holding the second collection for its 2nd Annual “Button Up Connecticut” coat drive on Saturday, Jan. 9, at the Redding Community Center from 9 to 1.

The Keystoners, the high school volunteer youth group at the club, collected more than 300 coats last year for less fortunate families throughout Connecticut and are hoping to better that number this year.

“Families in Redding really supported our efforts last year, and we are hoping that more families will join the effort by donating both used and new coats to Button Up Connecticut to help the less fortunate stay warm this year,” said Katherine Acocella, Joel Barlow High School sophomore and Keystone coat drive chairperson.

Keystone volunteers will be receiving donations of coats at the ground floor entrance to the Community Center’s gymnasium this Saturday and again in early January with the thought that families will help others during the holiday season, and again when new coats received as gifts during Christmas will replace old coats.

Dan Siracusa, CEO of Siracusa Moving & Storage of New Britain, founded Button Up Connecticut 20 years ago in partnership with The United Way. The program has collected and distributed more than 200,000 coats during its existence.

“Our coordinators were amazed and very thankful when Katherine and Carlos (Carlos Collazzo, the club’s executive director) arrived at our warehouse last year with bundles of coats that were prepped and distributed to many grateful Connecticut residents,” said Mr. Siracusa. “We are in an unprecedented time in our economy and these kids demonstrated the true value of giving of their time during a very special time of year. Their parents should be most proud and we at Button Up Connecticut are thrilled to have formed this partnership with the Redding Boys & Girls Club and hope it lasts for the future,” he added.

The Keystone Club asks that families spend time checking closets and storage areas in their homes to donate coats that may never be used again “and to give with the spirit of the holiday season to help make this winter a bit more comfortable for our statewide neighbors.”

“There were several families at the Siracusa warehouse picking our coats when we arrived with last year’s delivery from Redding, and it was very cool to see the results of the Keystone efforts live” said Katherine. “It made the true meaning of Christmas very real.”

If Redding families are not able to bring coats either this Saturday or Jan. 9, they can contact the club directly at 203-938-3166 and arrange a convenient time for them to deliver the coats to the club at 170 Cross Highway.

The Keystone Club is the volunteer group of high school students who has grown up in the programs offered by the Redding Boys & Girls Club, which meets regularly at the club for the purpose of identifying and participating in worthwhile community efforts and programs in the spirit of giving back.

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