The Society of St. Vincent de Paul and “Makenzie’s Coat Closet” held their annual coat giveaway on Jan. 8 and provided a record of 4,040 coats to the poor and homeless at the society’s Open Hand Kitchen.
The coats were donated to Makenzie’s Coat Closet, a project of teenager Makenzie Smith, who has been collecting coats for those in need since she was in the second grade. She is the daughter of Kevin and Carrie Smith of Borden, Ind.
The St. Vincent de Paul Society has been the recipient of the coats every year since the drive began, and each year the number of donated coats has grown. In addition to providing coats to people in the society’s homeless shelter and other society programs, the coat drive now includes other charities and schools.
