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The San Ramon Valley Rotary Club recently concluded its annual One Warm Coat drive, gathering over 5,000 clothing items and blankets. Rotary partnered with local businesses, churches, schools, libraries and fire stations to place collection boxes in more than 40 locations in the Tri-Valley, Walnut Creek and Concord.

"We could not believe the quantity and quality of the coats, sweaters and blankets donated. Some locations were so successful at collecting that we had to pick up items almost everyday," said Rotary Club One Warm Coat co-chairperson Larry Blair.

Clothing and blankets were distributed to homeless men, single mothers and their children, as well as several local charities. The New Hope International Church in Concord, St. Vincent de Paul in Pittsburg, Emerville Community Action Program, Shelter Incorporated in Martinez, Crossroads Shelter in Concord, Veteran's
Administration VA in Livermore and Romanian Overseas Organization all received donations.

The drive began 18 years ago in club founder
Bill Gregory's garage and is now conducted in a 5000 square foot warehouse, donated for the tenth year by Sunset Development.

The San Ramon Valley Rotary Club wishes to thank all of the businesses and organizations that provided space in their locations to host the One Warm Coat boxes. If you or your business/organization are interested
in hosting a collection box in 2013, contact Lynn Eager at 389-2437 or visit www.sanramonvalleyrotary.com.

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