Successful coat drive warms community
Coat drive organizers (from left) Essie Stewart, Gwenda Tschirhart and Deanna Skoglund sort through donations from the community last month before distributing them to local families in need. BULLETIN PHOTO/ Arianne Paradee
Editor’s Note: The Bandera Bulletin was a drop-off location for this bipartisan event.
Organizers say the second annual coat drive benefiting the Arthur Nagel Community clinic was its most successful yet.
“Another huge success thanks to the generosity of the citizens of Bandera County,” said organizer Essie Stewart.
Chuck Luke, Nagel’s Executive Director, extended gratitude to an “extraordinarily generous” Bandera County and said the coat drive benefitted over 60 families in nearly every county neighborhood.
Donations were accepted around the county for the drive, which was organized by the Bandera County Democratic Club, the Bandera Lions Club and Bandera Republican Women.
“What began one year ago as a ‘reach across the aisle’ demonstration of caring and unity between area Republicans and Democrats, has expanded to include other entities and groups,” said Lutke. “We are indebted to Essie Stewart and all those who volunteer each year to bring this loving project to fruition. More than this, we must thank all who contributed articles of warm clothing to so many who often live without heat in their homes, or who have no homes.”
Stewart extended a “huge thank-you” to Bandera Office Supply, Boyle’s True Value, the Bandera Public Library, the Medina Community Library, the Lakehills Area Library, the Bandera Prophet and Bandera County.”