Champaign Co. collects donations to keep families warm

CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — Several local organizations have teamed up once again to help single moms and their children stay warm during the wintertime in Champaign County.

Elks Club, Carle Healthy Beginnings Program and Urbana's Fraternal Order of Police are asking members of the community to donate money from now until Nov. 15.

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This is the 8th year the Savoy Elks Lodge is participating.

"They are kids. I mean, they do struggle. I mean, it's bad. I know one of our crossing guards used to say these kids would come to school, hardly any winter coat on or anything to keep them warm. So that's basically how this all got started," Elks Lodge member Mary Leming said.

Leming said in the last two years they raised about $1,500.

All of the money donated will help purchase winter coats, boots and mittens for single mothers and families with large financial burdens.

The fundraiser was formally known as Warm-A-Kid Coat Donations. This year, it ran from Oct. 11 until Nov. 15.