Marble Falls Noon Lions Club’s drive provides hundreds of coats for those in need
CONNIE SWINNEY • PICAYUNE STAFF
MARBLE FALLS — As winter approaches, so does the time to collect coats, scarves and hats for families in need. And everyone in the community is combining their efforts.
“It’s a combination of the stores, the churches, the schools, all helping us collect coats and, of course, the Masonic Lodge for a good place to distribute the coats and Canyon Cleaners for cleaning the coats,” said Monte Kruse, organizer of the 21st annual Marble Falls Noon Lions Club Warm Coat Drive. “It’s not a long season like Minnesota, but it really is bad if a little kid doesn’t have a coat when we get into cold weather.”
The Marble Falls Noon Lions Club will collect items through Nov. 20 by placing containers at various locations around Marble Falls, Meadowlakes and Horseshoe Bay, Kruse said. Distribution is 3-7 p.m. Nov. 20 and 3-6 p.m. Nov. 21-22 at the Masonic Lodge, 319 Ave. G in Marble Falls.
“I’ve been helping for six years. I couldn’t keep up, when (Kruse) brings (the containers) in,” said Patty Rogers of Canyon Cleaners, who cleans gently used donated coats at no cost. “We like to help out with the community, and it’s a very good cause for children and adults who need a coat.”
The biggest need involves coats, hats and gloves for small children (infants to 10 years).
“Some families come in with five to six kids. They’ll each get a coat for each kid,” Kruse said. “It would really be a financial burden to buy six coats for a winter season.”
The club also accepts cash donations.
“Some of these kids get a new coat, and they’re happy as can be,” Kruse said.
The club typically distributes from 300 to 600 coats each year.
Donations of gently used coats, caps and gloves can be left in containers at the entrances of the following locations: H-E-B, 1503 RR 1431 West in Marble Falls; Canyon Cleaners, 2208 U.S. 281 North in Marble Falls; Walmart SuperCenter, 2700 U.S. 281 in Marble Falls; First United Methodist Church, 1101 Bluebonnet Drive in Marble Falls; First Baptist Church, 501 12th St. in Marble Falls; Victory Dry Cleaning and Laundry, 706 Third St in Marble Falls; Lowes, 3200 U.S. 281 North in Marble Falls; Marble Falls Elementary School, 1909 Broadway in Marble Falls; Colt Elementary, 2200 Manzano Mile in Marble Falls; Marble Falls High School, 2101 Mustang Drive in Marble Falls; and Marble Falls Middle School, 1511 Pony Circle in Marble Falls.
Also, the entrance gate to the City of Meadowlakes on Avenue N and Arrowhead Bank of Horseshoe Bay, 5700 FM 2147 West.
connie@thepicayune.com