Keeping warm this winter: Auction held to help buy coats for community
By Jessica Stith (Email)
of The Daily Times Staff
Going once, going twice, sold -- to the person willing to put a warm coat on their cold neighbor.
Last year, there were over 600 children who needed those warm coats in Blount County, along with over 1,000 adults. The number of cold Blount County residents in need of those coats continues to grow every year.
To help the need, the Blount County Fire Department is hosting their first fundraiser in 14 years to raise money for Coats for Our Community. An auction will be held at 10 a.m. Nov. 1 at BCFD Station 7, 5156 Sevierville Road. Doors will be open at 9 a.m. and lunch will be served on site.
Blount County Fire Chief Doug McClanahan said the department receives donated coats for the project yearly, and they also purchase new coats with donations. He said they see more people in need of the coats every year, especially children.
"(The auction) gives us an opportunity to put kids in new coats," McClanahan said. "Our main emphasis is on the kids."
Each year, coats are collected at drop-off points in Blount County. They are inspected, cleaned, delivered to Station 7, sorted and hung up. The coats are then given to any person in need of a coat. Anyone attending the auction is invited to view the 14-year project, BCFD Deputy Chief David Watson said.
"By having an auction at the station where the coats are, they can see the process," Watson said.
McClanahan said they have received several donated items from Blount County residents and businesses for the auction including: a diamond ring, gas grill, antique sewing machine, furniture, motorcycle rental, fishing equipment, entertainment tickets and restaurant gift certificates -- among several other items.
BCFD Capt. Tim Ogle said some of the auction items will be ready for preview on www.blountfire.org, including a diamond ring appraised at $2,500. Early bidding can be done on those items through the Web site and the bidding will continue at the auction. Auctioneer Dick Rose of Rose Auction Company, Seymour, is providing the auction services for the fire department.
McClanahan said they want to give the community an "opportunity to give to and get involved in the program." Community members can donate items to the fire department to be auctioned.
Items needed include: furniture, collectibles, tools, toys, games, hunting or fishing items, lawn and garden items, office equipment, household items, sports equipment, glassware, vehicles and antiques.
Firefighters will pick up the items or they can be delivered by Oct. 25. For more information call 983-2133.
Ogle and Watson said that although they wanted to be able to buy new coats, it is also important that people continue to donate new and used coats for the program.
Coats are kept at the Station 7 and anyone can come by and pick up a free heavy coat and lightweight coat. The only question asked of the person to receive the coat is, "Do you have a working smoke alarm?" If the answer is "no," the fire department will come to their residence to install one for free.
Coats are also packed up in a trailer and delivered to all schools in Blount County, Alcoa, Maryville and Greenback, Ogle said. Students that need a coat come to the trailer to "shop" for a coat.
Last year, McClanahan said that about 75 percent of coats given to children were new coats. Ogle said they also try to give the children a toboggan and gloves.
To help, McClanahan said people can donate new and used coats, donate support money or volunteer their time to help process and deliver the coats. Coats can be dropped at all fire departments and several local businesses.
Support money is used to buy new coats after seasonal bargains at major department stores in Blount County and surrounding counties.
