THUNDER BAY — A new coat can mean a lot to a child, particularly in a remote northern community.
On Friday, Mikinakoos Children’s Fund along with its partners, Knights of Columbus and TD Bank announced the community impact to more than 30 northern First Nations served by the organization.
Colleen Martin, chair of the board for Mikinakoos Children’s fund, said a coat is more than a coat to these children.
“These are children living in the remote north. They have very little access to goods and unemployment rates are 80 to 90 per cent, so their parents may not work.
“But I want you to know what this new coat would mean to a child who's never had a new coat, who receives it for the first time and says, ‘wow, this is my coat, I own this coat.’
“It's not just a coat, it gives the children a real lift and empowers them that they matter because they got this new coat, it was purchased for them. I just want to share that impact of a coat is much more than a coat that keeps them warm,” Martin said.
Craig Murphy, grand knight of Knights of Columbus Thunder Bay Council 7332, said the Knights of Columbus has held coat drives for 15 years.
"Each council is encouraged to participate in the program by providing coats to local organizations in need, to make sure children have proper winter wear. We were in contact with Mikinakoos regarding their needs. They had some funds available that they're looking to leverage as much as possible," he said. "Funds they had available were able to purchase over 700 coats through the buying power of the Knights of Columbus”
Murphy said Knights of Columbus has a matching donation program this year.
“We were able to turn those 700 plus coats into over 1,400 coats.
“The great work that Mikinakoos does in their goal in providing proper clothing and other needs of children in our Northern Ontario communities. It was just a perfect match for what we do. We were happy to partner with them and be able to do this,” he said.
This is the second year Knights of Columbus has partners with Mikinakoos, Murphy said.
Mike Meady, membership information officer for the Ontario State Knights of Columbus, said that the coats for kids’ programs have expanded dramatically over the past few years in Thunder Bay alone.
“Last year alone the Ontario State Knights of Columbus donated almost 11,500 coats. That's fully funded no cost to any consumer to make a meaningful impact in all the communities, right from the Quebec to the Manitoba border. Our goal this year to expand that to a close to 15,000 coats,” he said.
Meady said the need is continuing to grow, and part of the Knights of Columbus’ belief system is to make sure all lives matter.
“So we can make a meaningful impact in the lives of a child or in a community, and that is what we are going to do. That's something that we strongly believe in and that's why we're growing as an organization.
“It gives us a good feeling, the more we give out, the more we can get back as in our spirit and our heart,” Meady said.
Four pallets have been shipped and there are six more that will be shipped out in the coming weeks.
The Giving Tuesday campaign has been created to help the coats get to the children in need. Donations will be accepted until Dec. 31.
