Delco Auto Dealers Donate Over 8,500 Winter Coats For Needy Kids

In its ninth year, new vehicle dealers in the five-county Philadelphia area will donate a record number of 45,070 free new coats to less fortunate children this fall through its Driving Away the Cold program, a philanthropic initiative of the Philadelphia Auto Show and the Auto Dealers CARing for Kids Foundation, according to a press release.

With this year's figures in, the area auto dealers have combined to donate 265,252 coats to kids in the five-county area since 2008, the release said.

Delaware County dealers will dish out 8,580 new and used coats to needy Delco kids this year, according to organizers. On Friday, Oct. 21, over 1,400 coats will be dropped off to the Haverford YMCA and that is just a portion of the 12,156 coats going the Philadelphia Freedom Valley YMCA, organizers said.

The Driving Away the Cold program aims to provide as many children in the area as possible have a warm coat during winter's bitter months.

"It’s staggering to think that one in six children in the five-county area of Philadelphia live in poverty. This equates to more than 174,000 children," Don Franks of JL Freed Honda and president of the Auto Dealers CARing for Kids Foundation said. "Sadly, a new winter coat is one of the essential items these children often live without. Through our Driving Away the Cold effort, we are trying to change that."

Of the 175 participating dealers in the five-county area, 20 are in Delaware County:

• Concordville Nissan
• Concordville Subaru
• Conicelli Toyota of Springfield
• David Dodge Chrysler Jeep
• Granite Run Buick GMC
• Loughead Nissan
• O'Reilly Buick GMC
• Pacifico Marple Ford Lincoln
• Piazza Honda of Springfield
• Porsche of The Main Line
• Rafferty Subaru
• Ruggeri Cadillac
• Scott Kia of Springfield
• Spencer Chevrolet
• Springfield Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram
• Springfield Ford Lincoln
• Springfield Hyundai
• Team Toyota of Glen Mills
• Thomas Chevrolet
• Videon Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram

According to the press release, the coats will be distributed through more than 125 different social services agencies, shelters, after-school programs, regional YMCAs, and more through identifying children who will benefit most from this gift and distribute the coats in a responsible manner.

Image via Shutterstock