Warm the Children campaign focus turns to raising money for next year

Want to help? Download the donation coupon.

The Warm the Children program has identified more than 2,600 Ann Arbor area kids who will receive coats, hats, mittens and other clothing this year, thanks to the generosity of the community.

Kori Isaac, who coordinates the program at AnnArbor.com, said about a third of those children has already been taken shopping by volunteers. And the rest will have new clothing by Dec. 31, at the latest.

With plenty of volunteer shoppers for this year and the goal of serving 2,500 kids surpassed, the emphasis now is on raising money for next year.

The current Warm the Children campaign launched on Nov. 8 with a goal of raising $250,000 for 2010. As of late last week, the community had already donated $29,000.

“We’re hoping to serve at least 3,000 kids next year,” Isaac said.

The Warm the Children program is in its 13th year. Money raised from the previous year allows volunteers to take children shopping for warm clothing just as winter is approaching. The children are identified by school social workers.

AnnArbor.com is covering all overhead and administrative costs, so that every dollar donated to Warm the Children goes directly to clothing for youngsters.

If you are interested in contributing to Warm the Children, you can do so by using the coupon accompanying this story. For more information on the program, you can call the Warm the Children hotline at 734-623-2525.

You can also donate, by visiting AnnArbor.com’s new community space on the first floor of 301 E. Liberty St. in downtown Ann Arbor and having a cup of coffee. The coffee is being donated on a rotating basis by local coffee roasters, and your purchase of a cup of coffee for $1.50 goes directly to Warm the Children.