‘Coats For Coffee’ Collects 550 Coats for Rhode Island Families
Friday, November 23, 2012
Ed Ricci of Courtesy Cleaners and Lynn Williams of Seven Stars Bakery, unload some of the more than 550 winter jackets collected as part of this year’s “Coats for Coffee” drive.
The coats will be distributed though Boys & Girls Clubs of Providence. Since the drive's inception, nearly 2,000 coats have been collected and distributed to local families in need.
“We know that many of our member families are struggling, so anything we can do to help is critically important,” said Nicole Dufresne, Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Providence. “The continued dedication and generosity of Seven Stars Bakery and Courtesy Cleaners to give back to our community goes a long way in making a real difference.”
Donate a coat, get a coffee
The coat drives name said it all: for two weeks beginning in late October, a coat donation at both businesses' locations was good for a voucher for a free small cup of locally-brewed coffee at Seven Stars. A sweetener offered a free baked good as well on the first day of the drive. Courtesy Cleaners donated its dry cleaning services to prepare each garment for its new home, as well as providing the transportation of the goods from drop-off, to cleaning, to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Providence location.
“We’re excited to once again be part of such an important collection; it’s something that our staff and customers look forward to as a way to help others,” said Lynn Williams, Owner of Seven Stars Bakery.
“Courtesy Cleaners has always been a company dedicated to giving back to the community,” said Ed Ricci, Vice President of Sales for Courtesy Cleaners. “This is an extremely important collection as it will help many of our neighbors and their children stay warm this winter; I hope people respond generously and help us exceed our goal.”
The “Coats for Coffee” drive began in 2008 and has grown each year since; generating nearly 500 coats in 2011.
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