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SALLISAW, OK - Cherokee Nation is working to provide “Coats for Kids” in Sequoyah County this winter.

“This project is asking for residents to go through their closets and donate the coats that their children may have outgrown,” said Buddy Holt, Cherokee Nation special projects officer for the Redbird Smith Health Center. “Have them cleaned, and drop them off at one of our convenient drop-off sites.”

The Sequoyah County “Coats for Kids” project is in need for community residents to respond to the need of many children in Sequoyah County who needs a coat for this winter. In September, the project organizers, the Cherokee Nation, had asked area school teachers in September, to help identify needy children, both Indian and non-Indian, in kindergarten through 6th grade who would most likely need a coat this winter. Sequoyah County teachers submitted 239 requests for children coats ranging from size small to extra large.

The “Coats for Kids” project has established Drop-off sites in Roland, Muldrow, Sallisaw, Vian and Gore to make it convenient for residents to drop-off new or used coats for the project. These drop-off sites are located in the following:

Roland-The Roland Register Newspaper office

Muldrow-Muldrow Cleaners

Sallisaw-Wal-Mart Super Center (Drop-off sire for new coats only) or you may purchase a gift certificate for the “coats for Kids” project. Coats and/or gift certificates should be returned to the Lay-A-Way department. Other locations within Sallisaw are Blue Ribbon Dodge, ABC Cleaners, Boys & Girls Club and the Redbird Smith Health Center.

Vian-Vian/TenkillerNewspaper offices

Gore-Armstrong Bank

“We want to thank Blue Ribbon Dodge and the First National Bank for making a contribution toward this project, and we hope other businesses and individuals will do the same,” Holt said. “Many families in our area have been affected by lay-offs and a lack of employment opportunities; consequently, through no fault of their own, the children suffer in these difficult times. We hope that everyone will remember this and make an effort to help us meet this need. We are hoping the public will respond so we can distribute coats to these children at their respective schools, starting the week of November 18th.”

For more information, or if your church, or group would like to help with this project, please call 918-775-9159, and ask to speak to someone with the“Coats for Kids” project.