The Knights of Columbus are providing winter coats to Connecticut children in need at seven sites across the state on Black Friday following Thanksgiving.
Coats for Kids will have distribution locations in Bridgeport, Hartford, New Haven, Stamford, Brooklyn, Groton and Waterbury. The Knights of Columbus provided 2,000 coats to children last year through the program and organization chapters throughout the United States and Canada have given away at least 215,000 coats to kids in total since 2009.
"On the first Christmas, Christ was born in a cold stable because there was no room in the inn," Supreme Knight Carl Anderson said in a statement. "Today, our members are making sure that children in our state can keep warm at Christmas and throughout the winter season."
Instead of looking for the best deal, mother Stacey Collins searched through piles of plastic bag-covered coats hoping to find one that fit her sons.
“I appreciate it so much because with it my kids would be cold," she said.
Without worrying about buying coats, Collins said Christmas will be a little merrier this year for her children.
“Thank you for keeping my kids warm this winter," she said.
The Knights of Columbus began distributing the jackets at 10 a.m. on Friday morning and will continue through 1 p.m. at the following locations:
- Bridgeport: St. Monica's Hall at St. Augustine Cathedral, 170 Thompson St.
- Brooklyn: Parks & Recreation Center, 69 South Main St.
- Groton: Sacred Heart School, 56 Sacred Heart Drive
- Hartford: Our Lady of Sorrows, 79 New Park Ave New Haven: St. Rose of Lima Church Hall, 115 Blatchley Ave.
- Stamford: Knights of Columbus Council 41, 507 Shippan Ave.
- Waterbury: St. Michael's Church, 62 St. Michael's Drive
"For three years running, Knights in Connecticut have embraced the 'Black Friday' Coats for Kids distribution as a statewide tradition that helps children in a very real way," Anderson said. "Simultaneously, it serves as a reminder that Christmas is not simply a commercial holiday, but is about giving, and celebrating God's love for us, and our love for our neighbor."
