Winter has arrived, and the Victoria Coats for Kids Association is working to make sure every child in Greater Victoria stays warm this holiday season.
This volunteer-run organization has operated for over 20 years, with its current board members in place for the last decade. Their mission is simple: to collect and distribute winter jackets to kids across Victoria.
To ensure no child goes without a coat, they work closely with the Victoria and Saanich school districts, as well as community agencies, such as Quadra Village Community Center, North Park Community Association, and Neighborhood Resource Group.
In October, volunteers packed over 600 coats on their annual packing day—one of their largest orders yet, according to member Leila Durzi.
This high number demonstrates the demand for winter gear, which is often overlooked due to Victoria’s temperate weather.
“We tend to think, because Victoria is often temperate, that it’s not cold here the same way it is in other eastern places. But we know from living here that it really is. It’s a very damp cold. We need waterproof things,” Durzi told Victoria Buzz.
She added that having a warm coat allows children to feel comfortable and confident outdoors.
“It’s never a kid’s fault that they don’t have a jacket…and every kid deserves to have one,” said Durzi.
The association is able to continue distributing coats throughout the year, thanks to the community’s support.
“The support that we get from the community is phenomenal,” said Durzi. “And the quality of the coats that we pick up from Hillside Center are fantastic…That’s what I prefer to be giving kids is new coats or almost like new.”
People can donate coats at Hillside Centre’s Guest Services desk, or give monetary donations online via Canada Helps by searching “Victoria Coats for Kids Association.”
This holiday season, help make sure no child in Victoria is left in the cold—donate a coat today!
