Car dealers donate winters coats to 1,400 Philly kids

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Chilly days won't bother 1,400 Philadelphia kids who got new winter coats on Monday.

The children got to pick their own warm jacket, thanks to area car dealers.

It's the 10th annual Driving Away the Cold campaign, and it makes a real difference for these struggling families.

"Warmth should not be a luxury, it should be a staple for these kids and it shouldn't be something that they worry about," said Kevin Mazzucola of the Auto Dealers CARing for Kids Foundation.

The program asked auto dealers to pledge a brand new winter coat each time they sold a car.

"It's a shame to think of little kids going to school not wearing the proper coats, and it just fills you with joy knowing that you are doing something good," said Jack Stein of Keystone Motors.

"This is really nice because they are expensive, especially if you have multiple children," said parent Aisha Thomas.

The superintendent of the Philadelphia School District, Dr. William Hite, says the coats are more than a fashion statement, it's a necessity that helps keep them in school.

"Some of the children without a proper coat will either get sick as a part of that or will refuse to come to school because of the inclement weather," he said.

It's not too late to help keep a child warm this winter. For information on how you can donate, MoreThanAutoDealers.com.

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