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Salvation Army program keeps kids warm

| November 26, 2022 1:00 AM

COEUR d'ALENE - For the past few years, the Salvation Army Kroc Center's "Operation Clothe A Child" has given local children a chance to shop with volunteers.

While it has been a success at providing students with warm clothes and support, it's time for a change.

“This year, we made a critical shift,” said Hannah Haakenson, the Kroc Center’s programming Youth development manager. “Rather than asking parents and guardians to drop their kids off, we asked them to come participate in the event with their kids.”

The first Operation Clothe A Child to incorporate this new dynamic was the middle school event on Nov. 19. Volunteers partnered with families to facilitate connection and conversation at dinner and assist with finding sizes and clothing items at Target. However, each parent and guardian helps his or her own child shop.

“For the first time in years, instead of the credit for the night going to us or to our volunteers, we got to see it go to the parents and guardians,” Haakenson said. “The individuals who love their children best and whose full-time job it is to help them grow into the amazing men and women they are becoming are the heroes.”

In addition to pizza dinner and shopping, youth also receive hats donated by The Kroc Center’s knitting group, The Yarmy.

Anyone can participate by applying to volunteer for upcoming Operation Clothe A Child events on Dec.2 and Dec. 7.

To make a financial gift to Operation Clothe A Child, sponsor a child’s new wardrobe, or be considered as a participant, visit bit.ly/3XrIGWu.