This year, Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley distributed more than 600 coats to children in need across the Fifth District. Supervisor Foley hosted in-person distribution events at the Boys and Girls Clubs of San Juan Capistrano and Costa Mesa with local elected officials, law enforcement, firefighters, and cheerleaders. Supervisor Foley also collected coats for R.H. Dana Elementary School, Save Our Youth (SOY), Unidos South OC, and Family Assistance Ministries (FAM).
“Thank you so much to everyone who helped make this year’s coat drive a smashing success,” said Supervisor Foley. “I started this tradition 15 years ago, collecting 100 coats on average. This year, I’m happy to share we broke records together with 600 donated new coats for kids just in time for the rain. I feel grateful for the generosity of our fellow community members in helping us keep kids warm this Christmas.”
On Monday, San Juan Capistrano Mayor Sergio Farrias, Aliso Viejo City Councilmember Ross Chun, OC Sheriff deputies, and OC Fire Authority firefighters joined Supervisor Foley at the Boys and Girls Club of Capistrano Valley for a Q&A and coat distribution. On Wednesday, State Senator Josh Newman, Costa Mesa Mayor John Stephens, Costa Mesa Mayor Pro Tem Jeff Harlan, Newport Mesa Board President Carol Crane, Costa Mesa police officers, Costa Mesa firefighters, and Costa Mesa High School cheerleaders joined Supervisor Foley at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast in Costa Mesa for a Q&A and coat distribution. Supervisor Foley and President Crane then visited SOY in Costa Mesa to drop off 60 more coats.
This year’s coat drive broke records for Supervisor Foley’s 15-year long holiday tradition to help our most vulnerable families. From Wednesday, November 15, 2023, through Monday, December 18, 2023, Supervisor Foley collected new coats in kids and youth sizes to help nearly 600 identified children and teenagers stay warm this winter.
Additional coats were delivered to Family Assistance Ministries in San Clemente and UNIDOs in San Juan Capistrano. Any gently used coats donated by the community were taken to the Costa Mesa Newport Beach homeless shelter and Share Our Selves.
For public inquiries, please contact (714) 834-3550 or Katrina.Foley@ocgov.com.
