Donate to our Annual Coats for Kids Drive Today!!!

The Knights of Columbus San Salvador Council 283 in South Philadelphia are raising money to purchase much-needed winter coats and other cold-weather gear for the children under the care of the Sisters of Saint Joseph in the Kensington area of Philadelphia.

Today, eighteen percent of American children live in poverty. As a result, many families cannot afford to provide even the basic necessity of a warm winter coat. Putting their faith into action, Knights of Columbus councils have handed out more than 1,000,000 coats to children throughout the United States and Canada through our flagship Coats for Kids program.

Last year, thanks in large part to the incredible generosity of our South Philly community we were able to purchase more than 140 brand new coats, as well as winter gloves, hats and scarves for Philadelphia children in need. This year we very much hope to exceed that raise.

ABOUT THE PROGRAM:

• Did you know that many children throughout the United States and Canada go without a coat each winter?

• Low-income families use their scarce resources to meet the most basic needs and cannot always afford this vital winter necessity.

• That’s why the Knights of Columbus developed the Coats for Kids program, which allows councils across North America the opportunity to put their faith into action and purchase new winter coats at bulk purchase discounted rates for children in need in their communities.

• Every dollar you donate will go directly to the purchase of new coats and warm clothing for Philadelphia children in need.

• More than 1,000,000 new winter coats have been distributed throughout the United States and Canada since the program began in 2009.

• This program’s primary goal is to help kids stay warm in the winter when a child’s family does not have the resources to adequately meet this need. A warm coat means a child can more realistically attend school, go to after-school programs, fit in with other children, play and do all the things that kids do to be kids. In a very real sense, a warm winter coat means mobility. Our mission is to make this seemingly small part of life a little bit easier for these families.

Sisters of Saint Joseph Welcome Center

Our Mission: In the just and compassionate spirit of Saint Joseph, The Welcome Center offers opportunities that enable immigrants and others to improve the quality of their lives through access to education, support services and programs leading to self-sufficiency.

We provide a safe space for people of diverse backgrounds to come together.

Our goal is to minister to families...to help mom and dad learn English and pursue the opportunity for naturalization. It is all about their family...English so that they can help their children in school, with medical issues etc. Many families struggle financially so if we can help during the winter to provide warm jackets for them, we and they are grateful.

History:

In 2002, we opened our doors in Kensington to serve and help meet the growing needs of the immigrant community. Rooted in the mission "to live and work so that all may be united with God and with one another", the Welcome Center continues to provide educational programs, support services and advocacy for our newest neighbors.