Our Coats for Kids committee met last week to get ready for the holiday distributions in December. In Paso Robles, we will set-up on Dec. 12 and 13 and distribute on Dec. 14 at the Paso Robles Event Center. Atascadero set-up dates are Dec. 16 and 17 at the National Guard Armory, with distribution on Dec. 18. 

Our mission is to collect new or gently used coats, jackets, sweaters and sweatshirts, to distribute to families and individuals who are in need and who are eligible for the event. Recipients must register to participate. In Atascadero, Loaves and Fishes handle the registrations and in Paso Robles, Toy Bank of Greater Paso Robles handles them.

Please check your closets now for the items I mentioned, that you are no longer wearing. If they need “refreshing” you can drop them off at any of our cleaners here in north county and they will clean them at no charge. A committee member will pick them up and store them until the distribution dates. In Atascadero use Plaza Cleaners or Fashion Cleaners and in Paso Robles use Plaza Cleaners or Paso Robles Cleaners and Laundry. Please remember to tell them that the items are for Coats for Kids, and don’t forget to thank them for their participation and support.

Donation boxes will be located in selected businesses in Paso Robles, Templeton and Atascadero, beginning the first week of November and we will post those locations on our website at coats-for-kids.net.

Coats for Kids partners with Loaves and Fishes, Atascadero Kiwanis Club, Marine Corps Reserve and Salvation Army in Atascadero, for the distribution at the Armory. In Paso Robles, we partner with Toy Bank of Greater Paso Robles and Salvation Army. Both events are huge, with well over 350-500 families served with coats and jackets, toys, and food.

For more information regarding the Paso Robles event, visit prtoybank.org. For the Atascadero event, visit atascaderoloaves.org and coats-for-kids.net.

]There will be many volunteer opportunities for both distributions, so watch for that information on the websites. For general information about the Paso Robles distribution and Toy Bank, contact chairman Marybeth Bonomi at 805-835-2553.

For Atascadero contact chairman Jeanne Robbins at 805-466-5066. Contact me at 805-461-1234 for Coats for Kids.

“Thank yous” are in order to all of the shoppers who visited our Assistance League San Luis Obispo County Thrift Store on Monday, Oct. 28, for the 2nd Annual Holiday Extravaganza. It was a remarkable success and proceeds will help us to provide more new school clothing to students in need, through our Operation School Bell program. 

The store is beautifully decorated for the holidays and there are still many items to choose from for your holiday shopping. Please visit us at 667 A Marsh St., San Luis Obispo. We are located next to the Wells Fargo Bank and in the same area as The Mountain Air Sports. When you shop with us you are helping us make a difference in the lives of over 2,000 school children in grades K-12 in our San Luis Obispo County schools.

Don’t forget the Atascadero Community Band Fall Concert on Sunday, Nov. 10, from 3-5 p.m. at Atascadero Bible Church, 6225 Atascadero Ave., in Atascadero. The concert and parking are free, but all donations will benefit the Printery Foundation in their efforts to rehabilitate the Printery Building located on Olmeda, in Atascadero. 

The Printery Foundation is also working collaboratively with the Atascadero Performing Arts Center Committee to produce a performing arts theatre in the building along with other community uses.

Mark your calendars for another holiday shopping opportunity. Get a head start on your shopping at the Pavilion on the Lake’s annual Holiday Boutique. The event is presented by the City of Atascadero, and runs from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Nov. 16. There will be approximately 50 vendors on-site for the one-day-only show where all items are handmade by the sellers. The event is free to attend.

On that same day, you can shop and eat your way down Traffic Way and visit the cool businesses located there. Called “Taco Day on Traffic Way”, the event is presented by the Atascadero Business Improvement District and runs from 1-5 p.m. 

For more information, go to visitatascadero.com.   

Enjoy the “cool-down” weather and enjoy the weekend.

Cheers!