Frank Denzler
For the last seven years the first Saturday in November has been synonymous locally with the Coats for Kids effort. The one-day event is sponsored by the Fraternal Order of Police.
This year will be no exception, with the annual free give-away slated to run from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday.
F.O.P. president and RPD officer Brandon Reynolds said the final pick-up of the winter clothing was recently collected and is currently being cleaned in preparation of the event.
“Members of local law enforcement and the Department of Natural Resources organization will be on hand at the local F.O.P. building Saturday to give out the coats,” Reynolds said.
The F.O.P. Lodge is located directly behind the Rushville Fire Station, in the 200 block of East Second Street.
Reynolds, Rush County Sheriff’s Department deputy Dave Sliger and others have been overwhelmed by the community support the event has generated in recent years.
Again this year, the annual coat collection essentially began from scratch due to the number of coats given out last year.
“I am surprised and overwhelmed by not only the number of coats and jackets collected this year but by the number of new coats that were donated by citizens this year,” Sliger said.
The new and previously worn coats will be made available to those in need of warm winter wear and is just one of the many ways the F.O.P. has a positive impact on the county.
The organization also hosts an annual Christmas party for disadvantaged youth and supports a variety of youth oriented athletics and other organizations in the community.
Trash bag sales help to fund the annual Christmas party and buy gifts for children who might otherwise have to do without.
Sliger and Reynolds expressed their gratitude to Dean’s Dry Cleaners in Shelbyville for again agreeing this year to clean each of the coats prior to distribution.
For additional information or to make a monetary donation to the F.O.P. contact Reynolds at the RPD (765) 932-3907 or Sliger through the Rush County Sheriff’s Department at (765) 932-2931.
Frank Denzler can be contacted at (765) 932-2222 ext. 106 or via e-mail at frank.denzler@rushvillerepublican.com. To add a comment to this story visit our Web site at www.rushvillerepublican.com.
