More than 9,000 Wichita children need winter coats, according to a news release Thursday from HumanKind Ministries.
The nonprofit is asking the community to help provide a coat for every child expected at its annual Operation Holiday campaign. Each year, Operation Holiday—the region’s largest holiday assistance program—provides between 12,000 and 15,000 individuals with basic needs to get through the winter. In 2022 HumanKind served 8,000 children through the program and is expecting to serve more than 9,000 children this year.
“Applications for children needing winter coats are up this year,” HumanKind President and CEO LaTasha St. Arnault was quoted as saying. “We need the community to rally behind us, so we can help provide every kid with a winter coat–we are currently short 6,000 coats.”
HumanKind is appealing to the community for either coat or cash donations. “If they can’t find coats locally, monetary donations are a very efficient alternative as they help us purchase them in bulk at discounted rates,” St. Arnault said.
Monetary gifts can be made online at HumanKindWichita.org/Donate, or by cash or check payable to HumanKind Ministries at 829 N. Market, Wichita KS 67214. Coats can also be purchased directly from HumanKind’s Operation Holiday Amazon Wishlist
Coat donations can be taken directly to the Operation Holiday warehouse, located in the former Central Library, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 9 a.m.-noon Saturday; to the HumanKind administration building at 829 N. Market, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday, and 8:30 a.m.-noon Saturday; or to any Operation Holiday collection site.
Coat donations can also be made during Dillons’ Day of Giving is this Saturday, Dec. 9, at Dillons stores on Central and Rock and 21st and Maize, from 9 a.m.0=-3 p.m. There are also collection boxes at Dillons stores across the city until then. Monetary donations can be made at operationholiday.org, where you can also find all information about the program.
