Events will bring coats to children

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The second annual Ronald McDonald House Charities “Give-A-Coat” campaign will host three separate events that will spread warmth across Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties.

The board of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Mahoning Valley & Western Pennsylvania voted to spend $20,000 to buy new winter coats for children of qualifying families.

Three local organizations have been selected to identify the underserved children from each of their counties, and will distribute letters/vouchers to the parents and guardians of the children who qualify to receive the new coats this holiday season.

All recipients will be pre-screened by the participating agencies to qualify for the vouchers that allow their parents or guardians to select the free winter gear for their children. No walk-ins are accepted.

“When temperatures plunge below freezing, a child can suffer from frostbite or other unimaginable consequences quickly,” said Herb Washington, RMHC board president. “No child should have to wait for a school bus without the proper attire or miss out on an opportunity to build a snowman because they don’t have a coat.”

Washington and other McDonald’s owners and operators involved are John Perdue, Dave Rieger, Tom Locke, Steve Telischak, and Rick Telischak. Volunteers will be at each event redeeming vouchers and passing out coats.