Family Focus Group Helps Keep Community Members Warm this Winter

The members of the Franklin County Family Focus group held their annual "Share the Warmth" winter clothing drive over the weekend, giving away around 300 items to community members — their most successful drive yet.

The donated items that they collected were available for pick-up at Band Shell Park and Coulter City Park starting at 5 p.m. on Friday. Gently used and new coats, mittens, hats, scarves, boots, snow pants and other winter items were donated for the cause, with most of the donations gone within several hours, said FCFF Chair Lili Velasco.

"This is a way for us to help take care of the community during the cold winter months!” said Velasco. "I'm so glad it was successful."

The following FCFF group members set up all of the clothing at the two locations on Friday afternoon: Missy Crawford and Lili Velasco, with ISU Extension and Outreach; Brittany West, with Four Oaks RRTS; Andrea DeGroote, with Crisis Intervention Service; Mary Hodson, with Building Families CAPP program; Jill McKeen, with Decat/CPPC Coordination; and Kristin Felderman, with Iowa Primary Care Association.

In the weeks leading up to the clothing drive, the group encouraged community members to drop off donated items at various locations in Hampton and Coulter.

The group members would like to thank all of their community partners, including the Knights of Columbus for providing resources for the schools.