Coats for Kids money doubled

A number of motorcyclists line up prior to a poker run fund-raiser Sunday at the Jesse L. Finley VFW Post 3221 in Grants. The event doubled last year's money reaching $8,000 this year for the Pam Woods Coats for Kids campaign. [Courtesy Photo]

By Jim Tiffin
Cibola County Bureau

GRANTS — Dozens of motorcycle enthusiasts and area residents turned out in Grants for the 2007 Pam Woods Coats for Kids events on Sunday. The Jesse L. Finley VFW Post 3221 hosted a poker run, and a raffle following, to raise money to buy coats for kids for the upcoming winter. The event was named the Pam Woods Coats for Kids, after a previous president of the Ladies Auxiliary, who died in 2003. Her daughter, Ashley Williamson, is carrying on the tradition after joining the auxiliary on Sunday during the fund-raiser.

This year the VFW post has raised double the money from last year, totaling $8,000.

“The Bernie Auger family donated money we raised after he died, $4,146 to the kids,” Post Commander Fred Gray said. “Bernie had a motorcycle shop here in Grants, which is still open, and after he died the family said they wanted us to take the money and use it for the Pam Woods Coats for Kids so the kids would have coats this winter,” Gray said.

Pam Woods was a member of the auxiliary, a president and worked tirelessly to help others, Williamson said.

“She lived for kids. She never had a mean word to say to anyone and always helped others,” Williamson said.

The auxiliary decided to name the annual coats drive after Woods after she died in 2003 because she was so devoted to getting coats for kids every year, said Yvonne Gray, secretary-treasurer of the auxiliary.

Fred Gray said the VFW Post gave a check Friday to a man in Albuquerque for $3,800, to buy 126 coats.

“We get lists of kids from the schools for those who need coats every year,” he said.

Two phases this year
This year, because of he amount of money, there will be two phases to the coats drive, the first one is the current coats being purchased, and distributed Wednesday and Thursday to students from area elementary schools. The second one will be a second list of kids from area elementary schools who need coats and senior citizens, he said.

“It’s not really, really cold yet and some kids as it gets colder some kids will show up without coats and we will help them and the seniors as well,” he said.

“We will double the number of coats we purchased last year, 226,” he said.

“Pam (Woods) was always so involved, she planned and helped and always volunteered for everything that the auxiliary did,” Yvonne Gray said. “She was so good at ideas and following through.”

Fred Gray said it is not too late for anyone to donate a used coat, or even a new coat, or money to help the post purchase coats for kids.

“People can call me on my cell phone or at the post, (505) 290-0432 or (505) 287-5157 (respectively),” he said.

Or anyone who would like to donate a coat or money and would like to drop it off in person at the post may go to the post at 1408 Johnson St., Grants, from 3-10 p.m., Monday through Friday and 1-10 p.m., any Saturday or Sunday.