Coat giveaway to begin Tuesday in Grants area

By Jim Tiffin
Cibola County Bureau

GALLUP — Families who need coats for their children this winter will be able to start picking them up Tuesday in both Gallup and Grants, said Eliane Notah, family assistance specialist with the New Mexico Army National Guard.

Hours and days will be different for pickup in each location, she said, because of the lack of manpower, especially in the National Guard Armory in Grants.

Families must sign a form and are allowed only one coat per child, Notah said.

Most of these types of signups come from the schools in outlying areas and are provided to her, she said.

People are still donating coats, and donations will continue to be collected and distributed through the holidays until there are no more coats, she said.

Anyone with a used coat that is not badly torn or so stained it cannot be worn is asked to donate it at any area Wells Fargo Bank or participating Chevron Service Station during business hours.

There are large boxes for coat donations at these businesses, and when they become full, the business calls her to pick up the coats.

"Otherwise, we pick up the coats about twice a week," she said.

Coats may be picked up by families on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Grants Armory, between noon and 4 p.m., Notah said.

In Gallup, coats may be picked up at the Gallup National Guard Armory from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Christmas and New Year's days.

Anyone wishing to pick up a coat or coats for their children at other times is urged to call Notah at (505) 862-1401 to schedule a time and day and she said she will try to accommodate the request.

The armories are located at: Grants, 2001 E. Santa Fe Ave.; Gallup, 54 Hassler Valley Road.

Last year there were about 300 coats donated in Gallup, she said.

Notah is hoping to get at least 100 in Grants this year.

In the past some people have donated toys, sweaters, even hats, she said.

"As long as it can be cleaned, we will accept it and make sure it gets to a child," she said.

In Gallup, Elite Cleaners is cleaning all the coats and other donated items free of charge as is Holiday Cleaners in Grants.

To contact reporter Jim Tiffin, call (505) 287-2197 or e-mail: jtiffin.independent@yahoo.com.