Community Generosity Keeps Kids Warm

Media Advisory

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -JANUARY 14, 2015 Contact: Ellen M. Ganley, Director of Development 508 762-9807

[email protected]

Community Generosity Keeps Kids Warm

WCAC wraps up successful Coat Drive for Kids

Worcester, Massachusetts - Each year Worcester Community Action Council, Inc. undertakes a Coat Drive in order to provide new winter coats to all of the children enrolled in the agency's Early Head Start, Head Start, and Healthy Families of Southern Worcester County programs, as well as for the children of the teen parents enrolled in the agency's Job & Education Center (JEC). More than just a new coat, the program seeks to alleviate the burden of purchasing a new coat for our vulnerable families, while also preventing children from getting sick, missing school and thus causing parents to miss work or school themselves.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of the local community, WCAC distributed more than 300 new winter coats. Special thanks to employees from National Grid and MAPFRE Insurance who combined to donate over 200 coats! Additional coats were donated by AllCom Credit Union and GloboForce, with financial support provided by Berkshire Bank, TJX Companies and Joy Guru Humanitarian Services.

" We are incredibly grateful for the strong community and corporate support we receive each year for this initiative," said WCAC Executive Director Jill Dagilis. "For many of the families we serve, the cost of a new coat for their growing little ones is a luxury they simply can't afford. Our hearts - and our smallest clients - are warmer this winter thanks to the remarkable generosity of so many."

Additionally, WCAC was selected as a beneficiary of the 12th Annual Burlington, Delivering Good & Good Morning America Warm Coats & Warm Hearts Coat Drive. To date, WCAC has received and distributed nearly 200 additional gently used coats to JEC students, WCAC clients and partner agencies. Donations will be collected through January 21st at the Burlington store located at 344 Greenwood Street, Worcester.

About WCAC

Since 1965, the Worcester Community Action Council has served as the federally designated anti-poverty agency for central and southern Worcester County, with a mission of helping people move to economic self-sufficiency through programs, partnerships and advocacy.

Serving the City of Worcester and 45 neighboring communities of Auburn, Blackstone, Boylston, Brimfield, Brookfield, Charlton, Clinton, Douglas, Dudley, East Brookfield, Hardwick, Holden, Holland, Hopedale, Hubbardston, Grafton, Leicester, Mendon, Milford, Millbury, Millville, Monson, New Braintree, North Brookfield, Northborough, Northbridge, Palmer, Oakham, Oxford, Paxton, Rutland, Shrewsbury, Southbridge, Spencer, Sterling, Sturbridge, Sutton, Upton, Uxbridge, Wales, Warren, Webster, West Boylston, West Brookfield and Westborough.

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