coat - a - kid



When Madison Beckmann was a third grader at Claymont Elementary School, she came home one cold November day and told her mother that a girl in her class did not have a coat to wear when it was time to go outside for recess. Together, Madison and her mother, Betsey Beckmann, of Chesterfield, purchased a coat, hat and gloves for Madison's classmate. Madison did not want to embarrass the girl, so the Beckmanns delivered the items to the school counselor. It was then that the Beckmanns learned that for many kids in the Parkway School District, a coat is not a basic item; rather, it is a luxury.

That winter, Betsey Beckmann asked friends to bring a new or gently used coat to her children's annual cookie decorating party. After the party, the BEckmann kids contacted every Parkway elementary school counselor with the news that they had 45 coats to give to kids in need.

That was in 2001. In 2002, Beckmann received so many requests for coats that she had to buy more to keep up with the demand. Coat-A-Kid was born.

Last year, Coat-A-Kid incorporated as a non-profit organization that works with individual schools in the Parkway, Rockwood and St. Louis City Districts providing coats, gloves and hats free-of-charge to children in need.

"Coat-A-Kid has discovered in the last seven years that a coat is more than a warm clothing item to put on when leaving the house," Beckmann said.
"The coats we give to the children that we serve provide a layer of warmth in houses that rarely have central heat."

Many children wear the coats the entire time that they are in their homes or homeless shelters during the winter. Many sleep in them for added warmth.

Coat-A-Kid also helps children locally in the Angels' Arms foster care program and has partnered with The Little Bit Foundation – an organization that provides clothing and essentials to kids attending the neediest schools in the city of St. Louis school system.

"We have promised to fulfill their coat needs by the end of 2010 to allow them to meet the demand for other items," Beckmann said. "By partnering, we can help a much larger group of kids."

This year, Coat-A-Kid had to cancel their annual fall festival and cash raffle fund due to the economic crisis. The goal of 3,000 coats is a challenge. Now, Beckmann said, the organization is counting on companies and families to give donations through a contribution card in lieu of a gift. A $100 donation buys four coats, 71 pairs of gloves or 71 hats. People can help also by holding coat, glove and hat drives.

Coat-A-Kid provides a hands-on opportunity for people of all ages to come together to help people less fortunate.

"Knowing we are making a small dent in the need of our community while teaching a younger generation that they, too, can help makes me feel proud because every kid deserves a coat.," Beckmann said.

More information about Coat-A-Kid can be found at coatakid.org.