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

The grant funds will be used during the winter of 2015/2016 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 when the weather turns cold or a raincoat and boots on a rainy day,” said George Alley, Outreach’s executive director. “Sadly, we know that there are far too many children in our community who do not have such basic items.”

Outreach’s Client Service Manager Michelle Reedy said that with the early forecasts showing a colder and wetter winter than usual, she knows that the funds from this grant will be much needed.

“We are very fortunate that we’ll be able to relieve families from making some tough choices about whether to buy their children clothing, to pay a power bill or even to buy food,” Reedy said.

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 tboutreach.org or call 828-894-2988.

-Submitted by Wendy Thomas