4600 N. Mason-Montgomery Rd.
Mason, OH 45040
Coats for Kids
A mission of The Karen Carns Foundation is to provide new winter coats to children in need in the Greater Cincinnati area.
Letters of nomination are received from area teachers/advocates for students who are in need of the gift of a new winter coat. The foundation wants to ensure that needy children receive new winter coats. Also, the intent is to strengthen the bond between the student and the teacher/advocate by having the teacher submit a letter of nomination for each child, and by having the teacher/advocate pick out the coat for the child.
Typically a shopping day is scheduled in November at a local retailer. Teachers/advocates stop by and choose the coats for their nominated students, and the foundation pays for them. The retailer typically provides a deep discount on the coat purchases; and opens the store two hours early for teacher-shoppers so that they are the only customers and can get assistance from the store staff. Due to Covid restrictions, in 2020 the retailer did the shopping, and agencies were given a scheduled time to pick up their requested coats.
New winter coats have been provided to area children in need each year since 1991, with over 19,400 coats given out to date. In 2020, the foundation spent over $35,000 to provide 1400 new coats to area schools, agencies and homeless shelters for distribution. The Dater grant supported the purchase of 940 new coats.
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