Sharing the warmth

Some walked in wearing thinning jackets, hooded sweatshirts or no coats at all.

But the children and teens — and some parents, too — who visited the Lola and Duane Hagadone Boys and Girls Club on Friday afternoon walked out feeling fabulous in brand new coats and jackets that will keep them cozy and warm this winter, at no cost to them.

“I think it’s very awesome because there’s a lot of kids out there that don’t have a lot of money to afford warm coats like these,” said 14-year-old Logan Braddy of Coeur d’Alene. He was wearing a long black dress coat, which he needed because his old winter jacket was all ripped up, he said.

“All I had is this hoodie,” Logan said, pointing to the sweatshirt under the nice new coat. “I think it’s just amazing the community is doing this.”

His friend, 15-year-old Hunter Magistrale of Coeur d’Alene, chose an identical long black coat. He giggled when he shared why they were drawn to these fancy jackets.

"Sherlock Holmes,” he said with a smile. “You know, some people can’t afford jackets like this. Just looking around, it’s nice to see this.”

The Boys and Girls Club was bustling with people as more than 750 new coats and jackets were distributed in the gym during the “Share the Warmth” event.

With retail prices of upward to $175 for some of these coats, including brands such as London Fog, Anne Klein and Hawke and Co., the value of the inventory given away was well more than $100,000.

“It’s really amazing because coats are one of the most expensive things for parents to purchase, and last the shortest,” said club development director Nicole Hammons. “To have the ability to really keep them warm, especially in North Idaho in the winter, is a blessing for everyone. We see a lot of kids come in no coats or just a sweatshirt and that’s what they call their coat.”

Jewel Montgomery of Coeur d’Alene held coats for two of her kids as they joyfully tried on one and then another.

“It’s amazing,” she said. “The community is coming together for people who can’t afford winter stuff like this. If it keeps the kid warm, I’m happy, and it makes the kids happy. Some parents can’t afford it. Just thinking about it makes me tear up.”

The “Share the Warmth” coat giveaway was a program of Macy’s department stores in conjunction with Clothes4Souls, a division of Souls4Souls, a Nashville-based nonprofit that creates jobs and provides relief through the distribution of shoes and clothing around the world. Macy’s stores held a “Buy a Coat and We’ll Donate One” campaign earlier this year, collecting 35,000 new coats that were donated to Coats4Souls and distributed nationally.

This campaign came to North Idaho thanks to the work of Rita and Rick Case, part-time Coeur d’Alene residents who have established 13 Boys and Girls Club locations in their other home state of Florida. The Cases have been successful in the car dealership industry and have been huge supporters of club kids for decades, sharing their time and energy to make life better for kiddos in need.

"It’s my husband’s and my goal, along with the Hagadones and the Boys and Girls Club, to provide these club kids with all the resources and tools to have the best possible life,” Rita said during a phone interview from Florida. "A brand new warm coat in the winter certainly is going to keep their hearts warm for the holiday season.”

Duane Hagadone visited the club during the giveaway to see the excitement and the joy on the kids’ faces as they showed off their new gear.

“This is truly amazing,” he said. “We really need to give a lot of credit to the Cases. Without them, this would not happen.”

Ava Prince, 11, of Coeur d’Alene, said she thinks it’s pretty cool people would care so much to help others this way.

“It’s pretty nice of them giving out free coats to kids who don’t have any,” she said.

Radlee Dulhanty, 8, of Coeur d’Alene, loved the pink headband that came with her black and pink Jessica Simpson jacket, which she was also over the moon about.

“I like that it will actually fit me,” she said with a big smile.

When asked about all the people who helped make this possible, she smiled again.

“I think that they are really kind and thoughtful.”

Info: www.soles4souls.org