BOULDER, Colo. (Nov. 12, 2024) — Cozy Coats for Kids® welcomed a new partnership through this year’s Annual Coat Delivery Program with Programs for Infants and Children (PIC), a charity organization serving Anchorage, Alaska, and the surrounding rural communities. PIC is an early intervention program that supports families with infants and toddlers with disabilities or delays to promote their health and development.
PIC Executive Director Amy Simpson stated, “Alaska is a beautiful and inviting place, and many people love to visit for a once-in-a-lifetime vacation. But for those of us who live here, especially low-income families, it’s an expensive place to call home—and the weather always wins. It gets cold in October and stays cold until May. In many places, a warm coat is nice to have, but in Alaska, it’s essential.”
Simpson shared that one parent whose children received brand-new coats expressed relief, saying, “I will sleep easier knowing that all of them have warm coats, as winter is here.” She also noted, “One little girl put on her new coat and exclaimed, ‘It’s pink!’ She has older brothers and usually wears their hand-me-down coats, which aren’t very girly. She was thrilled to finally have a pink coat of her own.”
One PIC staffer noted that the families’ ability to select new winter coats in specific colors lent the process a special, personal touch, saying, “The coats are so lovely! The families really appreciated being able to choose colors their kids would like.”
Simpson said, “As providers, we sometimes see kids in winter gear that no longer fits, is worn out, or, worse, they don’t have any at all. Being able to provide coats makes our staff feel like we’re truly helping families meet their children’s needs.”
