Co-op gives coats to children in need
For 16 years, McDonough Power Cooperative has provided brand new winter coats to children in its service territory. Each year, the co-op’s staff members work with elementary schools in the service territory to determine the need in order to purchase, sort, pack and deliver the coats.
“In the spirit of concern for community, the board continues to say ‘yes’ to the program each year,” said Energy Services Manager Kelly Hamm. “We don’t get the opportunity to stay and distribute them at every school, but when we do, seeing those little faces light up when they get their new coat is truly a special experience.”
This year, the cooperative provided nearly 260 coats, which were delivered in early November. Since the inception of the program in 2006, more than 3,700 children have benefited from the program.
The Coats for Kids program is powered by the McDonough Power Cooperative Cares Fund, which is made up of funds from scrap metal sales, employee and director donations, and CoBank’s Sharing Success grant. Headquartered in Macomb, the cooperative supplies power to members in portions of Fulton, Hancock, Henderson, Knox, McDonough, Schuyler and Warren counties.
