How many children go without a Warm Winter Coat each year in the Philadelphia Area?
It seems hard to believe, but one in six children in Philadelphia and five hundred thousand children in Pennsylvania live in poverty. The basic needs of life including food, a place to live, and warm clothing are sometimes out of reach for these children. Fortunately, there are organizations working to help these kids. Rafferty Subaru has joined forces with other auto dealers participating in the Driving Away the Cold program to provide coat donations to children in need.
What does Driving Away the Cold Program do?
The Driving Away the Cold program started in 2008 and enlists the help of local auto dealerships to supply coat donations to impoverished children in the five-county region of the Philadelphia area. Rafferty Subaru, in association with the Auto Dealers Association of Greater Philadelphia, is proud to be a participant in the Driving Away the Cold program, which has given 419,700 coat donations to needy kids since its inception.
How is Rafferty Subaru Participating in the Driving Away the Cold program?
Rafferty Subaru, the winner of the 2020 Subaru Love Promise Community Commitment Award, takes seriously its commitment to help the local community. Embracing Subaru’s core values to support organizations that help neighbors and community members in need, Rafferty Subaru will donate one warm winter coat for each car it sells in the month of September, through the Driving Away the Cold program.
Who Receives the New Coats from Driving Away the Cold?
Rafferty Subaru is committed to helping kids, especially those in the greater Philadelphia area. The coat donations made by Rafferty Subaru and other participants in the Driving Away the Cold program will be given to impoverished children in the five-county region of Philadelphia. Coats will be distributed through churches, schools, YMCAs, and other organizations in the coming weeks and months, before the harsh cold of winter arrives.
Why is a New Coat Important for Young kids in Need?
Anyone who has been outside on a cold winter day in Philadelphia understands that a winter coat is not a luxury but a necessity. A new coat doesn’t just warm your body, it makes you feel good. And these kids, like all kids, deserve not only to feel warm but to feel good about themselves. Rafferty Subaru stands behind that 100 percent. The proof is in the smiles on the faces of the children who receive coat donations through the Driving Away the Cold program. It’s what the Subaru Love Promise is all about.
What is the Feedback from Recipients about the Driving Away the Cold Program?
In an interview with NBC10, Mary Lynn Alvarino, Director of Operations of the Auto Dealers Association of Greater Philadelphia, explained the reactions of the kids who receive coat donations through the program. “The fun thing about (giving away) the new coats is that it supercharges their self-esteem. A lot of our coat recipients have never had a new item of clothing in their lives, so when they get it their smile lights up the room. I’ve had children ask me, ‘Can I keep this?’…and they are off and running when they know it’s theirs.”
What better time to buy a car than September, when Rafferty Subaru will donate a coat to a Philadelphia-area child in need for every car sold. Contact Rafferty Subaru today to schedule a test drive or to learn more about Driving Away the Cold.
