Kiwanis Club of Lenape Valley Reaches Milestone with 1,000th Coat Donation!
The Kiwanis Club of Lenape Valley is proud to announce a significant milestone in its ongoing efforts to support local children in need. On Tuesday, November 26th the club donated its 1,000th coat to the Hopatcong Middle School.
Each year the club partners with local schools in Hopatcong, Stanhope, Netcong and Byram to provide brand new winter coats to students who may not otherwise have access to them. The project aptly named "Clothe-A-Child" began in 2011 and was spearheaded by club members Sharon Rawlins and Alice Harrison, both of Byram. Rawlins and Harrison chaired the project from 2011-2015 with the club donating 205 coats under their lead. In 2016, club member Catherine Hegarty of Hopatcong took over the project and observed the need from the four towns increase drastically with 2023 being the year of the most donated coats at 134.
1,000 coats donated is especially significant being that the Kiwanis Club of Lenape Valley is a small but mighty club of 8 members. Through fundraisers, donations and a grant from the Kiwanis Children's Fund the club has found a way to provide warmth and comfort to local children year after year.
Kiwanis is an international organization dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time. The Kiwanis Club of Lenape Valley meets every 1st and 3rd Thursday at Sal's Pizzeria in Stanhope at 6:30pm. More information about the club can be found at www.lenapevalleykiwanis.com
Pictured from left to right: Hopatcong Middle School principal Lewis Benfatti, Clothe-A-Child Chair Catherine Hegarty, School Nurse Anna Vosolin, Kiwanis member Brian O'Connell