Coat drive makes kids warm

As cold weather and the holidays approach, people will have more than one opportunity to impact life in Colusa County.

Impact Life Thrift Store is joining forces with several organizations to make life more comfortable for residents in need.

This month, Impact Life is working with Colusa County Behavior Health and the Family Actions Centers in Williams and Arbuckle to collect coats for kids and adults.

"Everyone needs to be warm this winter," said Buffy Welch, Impact Life manager.

Welch said Impact Life serves about 800 families in Colusa County, although that figure may go up as a result of the downturn in the economy and jump in unemployment rates.

The economy could also impact donations.

In 2008, charitable giving in the Unites States dropped two percent from 2007, according to Giving USA.

The 2008 number is the first decline in giving since 1987, and the second since Giving USA began publishing annual reports in 1956, according to a news release. About two-thirds of all charities receiving donations saw decreases in 2008.

"With the U.S. mired in a recession throughout 2008, there was no doubt in anyone's mind that charitable giving would be down," Del Martin, Giving USA Foundation chairwoman, said in a statement. "However, what we find remarkable is that individuals, corporations and foundations still provided more than $307 billion to causes they support, despite the economic conditions."

Martin said charities did see "belt-tightening" last year, but that it could have been worse.

Welch said despite the continued recession, Impact Life hopes people will still be generous in donating to those in need this year, as the charity coordinates its annual countywide coat drive, beginning Oct. 30, in Grimes.

People can drop off new or gently used coats at a number of sites, Welch said.

In November, Impact life will be teaming up with the United Bikers of Northern California and the California Highway Patrol to collect toys for children.

The second annual "Ride for Kids." will be held Nov. 22, from Granzella's in Williams to Impact Life Thrift Store in Colusa.

Welch said both events helps hundreds of children in Colusa County, who may otherwise go without coats this winter or gifts at Christmas.

INFO BOX

• What: Impact Life Coat Drive
• When: 11 a.m. –  noon, Grimes Scout Cabin, 203 Main St., Grimes; 9 a.m. – 11 a.m., Family Action Center, 812 King St., Arbuckle; 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Family Action Center, 901 E. St. Arbuckle; 9 a.m. – 11 a.m., Burchfield Primary School, 400 Fremont St., Colusa.
• DETAILS: 458-5776; Online: www.impactlifeincolusa.org

Contact Susan Meeker at 458-2121 or smeeker@tcnpress.com.