Melissa Garcia, Community Affairs Manager, Nebraska

This October the United Way of the Kearney Area and other local community organizations distributed more than 1,300 coats to keep kids warm this winter.

The need was greater than ever due to financial hardships during the pandemic. Last year the organizations distributed about 400 coats. Volunteers stepped up to more than triple the number given in 2020.

Black Hills Energy employee Laurie Cook serves on the local United Way board and helped organize a safe way to distribute the coats. "Distribution was a little different this year. Instead of kids being able to pick up their own coats, parents had to register early, and coats were chosen based on the requests received and then bundled up per family. Then one person per family came to pick up their items," said Laurie. 

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