LAKEPORT, Calif. – Country Air Properties is hosting a coat drive to collect clean, gently worn, warm coats through Nov. 24 at 460 S. Main St., Lakeport.

Event coordinator, Realtor Julie Taylor, says that the goal is to collect 50 warm coats and at least $100 to help with the “One Warm Coat” program.

“We are inviting our local community to help make a difference by donating to the coat drive and helping our neighbors who cannot afford a decent coat to keep warm in,” Taylor said.

One Warm Coat is a national nonprofit organization that works to provide a free, warm coat to any person in need and raises awareness of the vital need for warm coats.

One Warm Coat supports individuals, groups, companies and organizations across the country by providing the tools and resources needed to hold a successful coat drive.

Coats are distributed in the communities where they were collected, to any person in need, without charge, discrimination or obligation. Each year, hundreds of thousands of gently worn coats are distributed across North America to children, women and men in need through One Warm Coat’s Coat Drive program.

The donated coats will be distributed by Coat Drive Ambassador Vanessa Goodrich out of the Lake Family Resource Center in Kelseyville.

Jennifer Stockard, president and chief executive officer of One Warm Coat, says her organization is dependent on local volunteers to make the program work.

“We are so grateful for our partners like Country Air Properties and Julie Taylor. It is because of our incredible volunteers that we have been around for more than 25 years, helping get coats to our neighbors who need them. Thanks to Julie’s efforts, many people in Lake County will have a much warmer winter,” Stockard said.

For people who do not have a coat to donate can still get involved by texting “WARM” to 80100 to donate $10 to One Warm Coat or visiting www.onewarmcoat.org/donate.

For Taylor, efforts like this are critical for our community to take charge to help needy families and not wait for someone else to do it.

“Times might be good for many of us, but they are still bad for many of our own neighbors. I want to encourage more people to have a ‘Man in the Mirror’ moment, and make that change: It’s gonna feel real good!” She said.

I'm gonna make a change
For once in my life
It's gonna feel real good
Gonna make a difference
Gonna make it right

As I turn up the collar on
My favorite winter coat
This wind is blowin' my mind
I see the kids in the street
With not enough to eat
Who am I to be blind
Pretending not to see their need?

Michael Jackson, “Man in the Mirror”