Thermal Belt Outreach Ministry (Outreach) is pleased to announce a grant award from the Polk County Community Foundation for seasonal clothing assistance for school children.

This grant will be used to help school children who do not have appropriate apparel for the colder winter months ahead.

“Many of us take it for granted that we’ll have a winter coat or a slicker and boots for a cold rainy day,” says Carol Newton, Outreach’s Executive Director, “however, what we’ve found working in partnership with Polk County schools is that there are many children in our community who do not have such basic items.”

“With last year’s warmer temperatures, we used PCCF’s seasonal grant funds to purchase a lot of footwear for students who were wearing sandals, flip flops and adult sized shoes to school,” said Michelle Reedy, Outreach’s Client Service Coordinator.  “This year, with a colder winter forecast, we expect that children will need more coats, jackets and sweaters.”

Outreach is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1991.  The organization’s mission is to provide compassionate assistance to Polk County residents who are unable to provide for their basic life needs.  For more information on Outreach, please visit www.tboutreach.org or call 828-894-2988.

– article submitted by Wendy Thomas