Annual Coats for Kids Radiothon Helps Keep Children Warm in Metro Detroit
*Major Toni Dorrell, General Secretary and Metro Detroit Area Commander on the air with WJLB personalities, Dr. Darrius and Chris Carsyn
Last Saturday, November 4, The Salvation Army of Metro Detroit’s annual Coats for Kids fundraiser took place at Universal Nonstop arcade in Warren. The fundraiser was hosted by Detroit’s R&B and hip-hop radio station 97.9 WJLB.
For more than 40 years, the Coats for Kids campaign has provided coats and other winter accessories to children in need across metro Detroit. Listeners dropped off new children’s coats—infant through adult sizes—throughout the event.
The donated coats will be distributed to children in need throughout metro Detroit in the weeks following the event and during the Christmas season.
“Many families in metro Detroit must choose between putting food on the table and purchasing winter gear for their children—a decision no family should have to make,” said Major Toni Dorrell, General Secretary and Metro Detroit Area Commander.
*Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity member volunteer, Komar, donates a coat
“Thanks to 97.9 WJLB and our generous community partners, The Salvation Army can help local families worry less about the cost of winter coats and focus on keeping their children warm during the frigid Michigan winters.”
The event’s community partners included Buddy’s Pizza and Chillbox Convenience Stores. Buddy’s ran a promotion awarding free pizza coupons to the first 250 people who donated a coat or $25, as well as providing pizza for volunteers. Chillbox convenience stores accepted donations of new coats and toys in the weeks leading up to the event.
The event ran from 10:00 a.m to 5:00 p.m. and included hourly interviews which included Major Toni Dorrell, General Secretary and Metro Detroit Area Commander, Major David Minks, officer at the Warren Corps Community Center, City Council president Mary Sheffield and prominent Hip-Hop artists such as Skilla Baby, Tee Grizzley and Sada Baby.
“We at The Salvation Army want to make sure everybody is taken care of. We support the hungry, we support the homeless, we support people who are cold. And we’re doing our best to make sure the people of Detroit are well taken care of,” said Major Minks on the air with Chris Carsyn.
In addition to listener donations, sponsors made generous contributions:
- $16,002 from SweetPro
- $500 from Moneyball Sportswear
- $500 from Holbrook Automotive
- $500 from Robinson Furniture
Among the volunteers were members of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority.
*Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity members
“We’re really impressed with the initiatives of The Salvation Army. It kind of ties into the aims of our fraternity and the mission that we do. Coats for Kids is a really good event, I believe it’s definitely needed,” said Alpha Phi Alpha member, Komar.
*Zeta Phi Beta Sorority members
“Our chapter is new to Coats for Kids, so we’re trying to get our face out there and help kids who don’t have coats. It’s good this time of year to help others who don’t have what you have,” said Zeta Phi Beta Sorority member, Erica.
By the end of the event, more than 1000 coats were donated, thanks to generous WJLB listeners and sponsors.
If you’ve been inspired by this great event to make a difference for those in need, you can donate to The Salvation Army or volunteer as a bell ringer this Christmas season.