East Bay’s “One Warm Coat” Project A Huge Success!
December 16, 2008 by Jim Walberg · 2 Comments
There is an increasing number of East Bay families at risk during these challenging times. The One Warm Coat project is a critical service provided to these families.
For the past 13 years we have organized our local real estate community to participate in the One Warm Coat project. We spent the last two weeks collecting any type of good warm clothing; coats, sweaters, blankets, sleeping bags, socks, hats, etc. This year there was over 15,000 pieces of clothing collected in the East Bay for this critical project. Giving back is critical for all of us who are alive.
What we have discovered is that people in our community want to help with the needs of those less fortunate. Often times the reason they don’t participate in giving is because they have not been given an easy way to do so. We passed out over 1,000 large plastic bags on the front porches of the neighborhoods for whom
we serve their real estate needs. We made it very easy for individuals to help, and they did in overwhelming ways. You would not believe how many truck loads of pick-ups I made. It is as if the community as a whole are reordering their priorities and giving back even more during these difficult economic times. “If you have a loaf then at least share a slice.”
We even invited other friends of ours to take up the challenge to gather warm clothing. Dean Langston from Milestone Mortgage and Ashley Provost from ROI Home Services decide to through a Holiday party at Dean’s home as the “hook”. The ticket to the party was a warm coat. They collected over 660 coats the night of the party!!! They even involved our local community vendors to supply the party’s needs. For example, The Peasant & The Pear supplied all the food! And they passed out coupons for a free dessert the next time you go their restaurant. It was an inspiring result from two people dedicated to giving 
back to the community.
Several community organizations are benefiting from the collection of all these warm clothes. Two of them are Sheperd’s Gate, and Contra Costa Family Services. The impact these two organizations have in serving families at risk is unbelievable. Contact me if you would like to find out more information as to who you can help in serving the community needs of the East Bay. Until next time.
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Jim, thank you for your kind words about the Coats & Cocktails benefit, and for helping to publicize the event throughout the real estate community. I hope you had as much fun at the party as Dean and I did hosting it!
This was my first year being involved with One Warm Coat, and I was amazed, impressed and inspired by the willingness to give. Not only guests who brought coats but also sponsors such as The Peasant and the Pear, Indian Rock Vineyards, The Flower Bowl, Latille Photography, Norm’s and the Steve Snyder Trio, all of whom donated their fabulous services.
Jim, I think you hit the nail on the head when you said that making it easy for people to give is the key to inspiring charity. I’m so impressed by your idea to leave bags on the front porch of clients’ homes. What an outstanding idea! You’ve set the bar pretty high–I’ll see if I can keep up! Thanks again–great post!
Dear Ashley,
Thank you again for your commitment to give back to our community. As long as we have breath it is important to address the needs of our community. Even making a diffenence in one life is enough. Your Coats & Cocktails event was an example of how a few people can make such an enormous difference in the lives of those less fortunate. I am so glad to be in this community with you and Dean. 2009 is going to be another very exciting year of service to others – both professionally and to those in need. Thanks for being one of the key foot soldiers of those giving back. Until next time.