Pivotal Home Solutions donates over 125 coats to Aurora youth
Children in the Aurora-area will be warmer this winter with new coats thanks to Pivotal Home Solutions annual coat drive, "Coats for Kids."
More than 125 coats were collected by employees of the Naperville-based company and given to Wayside Cross Ministries in Aurora, which coordinates with a network of churches and social service agencies to distribute the coats to children just as the weather turned cold.
"Most of us, myself included, have never had to worry about a warm coat," said Robin Sterkel, program coordinator for the urban youth ministry, a division of Wayside Cross Ministries. "But we have so many kids that come to us and their coats are too short and their little bellies show in the cold. If we can offer these coats to the families, it's one less burden for them."
Now in its 13th year, more than 1,000 coats have been donated by employees of Pivotal Home Solutions and SouthStar Energy Services, subsidiaries of Southern Company Gas.
"We recognize that economic times remain challenging for many, and we want to do our part to provide winter coats to as many children in need as possible," said Keith Thompson, client relations manager at Pivotal Home Solutions. "Each year, our drive has gotten bigger and better. Employees here truly believe they have a responsibility to give back and it shows."
The annual Coats for Kids drive is one of many events Pivotal Home Solutions employees produce to support their communities throughout the year. In the month of December, employees additionally held a jean donation, and a blood drive that benefit the American Red Cross.
"Coats for Kids is just one of the many ways our employees give back to the community," said Kenny Coleman, Pivotal Home Solutions president. "No matter the season, employees here are always working to ensure we are citizens wherever we serve."
Thompson, who helps lead the annual Coats for Kids effort agreed.
"When we donate funds, you don't necessarily see the impact," he said. "With Coats for Kids, the impact is immediate - someone in our community needed a coat and they received one."