The Rotary Club of Hazleton recently donated $5,000.00 to the Hazleton Rotary Foundation to continue their Kidz Coatz project. L to R: Rotary Club President Ron Avellino, Foundation President Lex Sloot, Rotary President-Elect Pat Ward.
Since the beginning of Kidz Coats in 2007, The Hazleton Rotary Foundation felt a new winter coat would not only help warm a child when traveling to and from school, but also increase their self-esteem. For many of the students, this is the first new coat they have ever owned.
 
 
The teachers confidentially provide the student’s name and coat size and HRF purchases the coats. With the help of Hazleton Rotary Club members they sort and deliver the coats to all Hazleton Area Elementary Schools (except Freeland which is handled by the Freeland Rotary Club). These deliveries are usually made around the Thanksgiving Holiday.
The project was funded over the years by grants from several other local foundations. Individual Hazleton Rotary Club members also provided some funds, but not the Hazleton Rotary Club itself.
“Over 2,500 new coats have been purchased and distributed to area students since Kidz Coatz started. The numbers are not decreasing and the need continues. This past year we were also able to buy new coats for the boys at the United Charities Home” comments Lex Sloot Rotary Foundation President. “The money generously donated by the Hazleton Rotary Club will allow us to purchase more new coats in the future and will be used for that purpose only.”
The Hazleton Rotary Club thanks the community for patronizing its fundraiser projects such as A Night at the Races, Spaghetti Dinner and Wine and Beer Festival which helped fund its recent series of Community “Service Above Self” Grants.
“We invite everyone to keep on attending and enjoying our fundraisers and then hopefully, more grants can be awarded in the future.” says Rotary President Ron Avellino.