In mid-November we did a story about "Coats For Kids" a program for collecting and distributing coats to children and families who might need a little extra warmth this year. At the time of that writing less than a dozen coats had been donated. What a difference a month makes! As of Monday the Century 21 office on Pacheco Blvd alone has received a phenomenal 355 coats, this according to Geneva Brett who has been heavily involved in supporting the local effort.

While this is a regional program that is being participated in by people and businesses in many cities, Los Banos is in something of a unique situation. According to Ms. Brett all of the coats that are collected in Los Banos will be staying in Los Banos. Bonny Howell. another Century 21 agent noted in a recent email that, "The bulk of the coats will be delivered on Dec. 21st to the Salvation Army." she notes, "We have talked to Pastor Joe and he is needing around 100 coats that we will deliver to him [December 11th] once Maria Pina brings them back from her cleaners."

Ms. Howell's last statement brings up an important point. Maria Pina, a Coldwell Banker realtor and the owner of Johnie's Cleaners, has generously donated cleaning services for all of the used coats that have come in for Los Banos. Of the 355 coats that have arrived so far, 268 are or have already been sent to Johnie's for a free professional cleaning.

Ms Howell also said that fellow realtor Roger Cervantes has emailed school superintendent Steve Tietjen asking him to tell all of the teachers about the program and to let them know that there are coats available. She said, "If someone has an immediate need they should contact Pastor Joe at the Salvation Army. [The pastor] said that coats can be picked up daily Monday thru Friday from 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon and then again from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00p.m." The Salvation Army is located at 1232 4th Street.

Geneva Brett seems pretty pleased with the efforts of her company and in particular the local Los Banos agents. She said, "Century 21 M&M and Associates has 20 offices in the Central Valley, all of which are participating in the Coats for Kids program. The company goal was to collect a total of 2500 Coats for Kids. As of 10 am today (12/14/09) the total company count is 3200 Coats; 355 of which were collected here in Los Banos! "

She continues, "C21 M&M has a total of 750 agents; 15 of whom are in the Los Banos office. Company wide we were challenged with collecting 2.5 coats per agent; LB collected over 23 coats per agent (Our agents themselves brought in 64 coats!)" She also noted, "On a personal level, I’m overjoyed with my new C21 M&M family who completely embraced the Coats for Kids Program; Bonny Howell became our Coats Coordinator, Jeanette King arranged for the cleaning, Roger Cervantes worked with the Salvation Army and School District and we all collected coats. When Jim Mohr owned C21 years ago he was ever mindful of community need; his legend of commitment to community giving lives on with the new and improved Century 21 …. M&M and Associates."

Ms Brett is also apparently very thankful to the many people in the Los Banos community that have helped out, "C21 M&M Los Banos extends our sincerest thanks and appreciation to all those who’ve helped keep a child warm this winter, from the adorable size two toddler (and her three siblings) who took off their warm coats and placed them in our tub during the Christmas Parade to the groups, schools, companies and non profits who donated 15-30 coats."

If you would like to help out with the Coats for Kids program it is not too late! Coat donations will continue to be accepted until December eighteenth. As mentioned in the previous story, for every gently used or new coat that anyone brings in, the donor will get a free ticket and on December twenty-first at Arco Arena tickets will be drawn from all of those which have been donated in the regional program. The third place winner will win one hundred fifty dollars, second place will win two hundred fifty dollars, and the grand prize winner will receive one thousand dollars.

For more details, check out the News 10 Coats For Kids website at http://www.news10.net/life/community/events/coats-for-kids/coats-main-full.aspx or you can call News 10's Coats For Kids Information Line at (916) 321-3362 or Century 21 M&M and Associates of Los Banos at (209) 827-3434.

If everyone in Los Banos would just take 1 or 2 hours a month to do something to help their neighborhood or their community we could truly make Los Banos the gem of the valley.

The above is only my personal opinion and I strongly encourage readers to seek out more information from expert sources. Copyright 2009