1000 Coats for kids in the Peruvian mountains 2022

In 2021 for the first time, I decided to document a project that I usually do in silence. When I decided to let others participate, I was overwhelmed by the response of everyone to whom I reached out. Their generosity and support allowed me to surpass my goal. The attached video shows many of the smiles and happy hearts that were touched as they received some of the 600 coats we could donate. What the video does not show are the hearts encouraged, the souls touched, and the friends and family united behind the scenes to bring Joy after a harsh pandemic year.

My goal this year is to deliver 1000 coats. Each brand new coat costs approximately $20. Coats will be purchased in the city of Cusco to help the local economy. Kids from remote areas 10,000 feet above sea level will be blessed with a warm coat. I was once one of those kids. Growing up in the mountains of Cusco, I was encouraged by the acts of kindness of wonderful souls, giving back to the community. I hope to bring a spark of that same encouragement and love that I myself once received.

It is my intention to replicate last year's Coat drive this year. If the fundraising goal is surpassed, more kids will be blessed. If you are reading this, I hope you would consider sharing this opportunity with others.

A little background on why coats are important:

Winters in the Peruvian highlands are particularly harsh, killing livestock and causing thousands of children to suffer respiratory illness. The southern Andean region suffers from some of Peru’s highest rates of poverty and malnutrition. It is not unusual for homes to feature dirt floors in the most impoverished regions, despite the region’s freezing climate. Simply providing a coat to a child in this region can significantly impact that child’s health and development.