There are many special things that my husband Kevin and I do together — vacationing, boating, playing tennis, reading, and even working for the same company. One activity stands out from the rest, volunteering at The Junior League of Austin‘s (JLA) Coats for Kids Distribution Day.
Volunteering with my Keller Williams family, including my husband, at The Junior League of Austin’s Coats for Kids
Coats for Kids provides approximately 35,000 new or gently used coats to Central Texas children who do not have warm winter coats. This is quite the operation and JLA looks to Jack Brown Cleaners, KASE 101, and KVUE to be part of the trusted team. And of course, we rely on volunteers from both the community and our League to make the magic happen.
During November and early December, coat drives are held throughout Austin. Imagine my delight and surprise, when Keller Williams University held a coat drive at Keller Williams Realty International (KWRI)! Jack Brown Cleaners locations are a major donation hub and they dry clean the gently used coats to ensure that they are perfect for the new recipient. The week before Coats for Kids, volunteers sort coats by size on coat racks, preparing Palmer Events Center for Distribution Day.
The morning of Distribution Day is emotional. Part of my heart breaks as I see the thousands of parents and children lined up outside the events center, waiting their turn to get a coat. They are often worried that the coats will run out — they won’t! There are enough cute or “cool” coats for every child! The other part of my heart is swelling with pride and love, thankful that I have the opportunity to be a leader in JLA, the amazing organization that makes this day possible.
When the doors open, volunteers are lined up, ready to greet the families and begin the adventure of finding the perfect coat for each child. It emulates a true shopping experience focused on color, fit, the perfect embellishment. As you look around the massive room, you see volunteers and recipients smiling, shaking hands, hugging and expressing thanks.
There are always members of the Keller Williams Realty (KW) family volunteering, providing me another happy moment when my two most significant worlds collide — JLA and KW!
Because we are JLA, there is more than the coats. There are books given away by BookSpring (an amazing organization that KWRI supported during our 2014 RED Day) and important health screenings. Today, I was especially grateful to learn that through the vision screening, a family learned that their child has a severe eyesight issue. This family would not have known this if it were not for Coats for Kids and now this child will be helped. As next year’s Coats for Kids Chair Courtney Clark remarked, “That is why we do this!”
That is why we do this! As we continue into the crazy holiday bustle, I hope that days like this keep me focused on what is really important — helping others and appreciating the gifts that we have that enable us to do so. I am thankful to be a leader in The Junior League of Austin and proud to be part of the Keller Williams family!
