Bringing Warmth and Comfort: KMR Group Foundation’s Winter Coat Initiative

At the KMR Group Foundation, we believe in supporting underserved communities by offering equal access to healthcare, food, safety, and education. As part of our ongoing commitment to this mission, we recently provided a winter coat donation to help those in need stay warm during the colder months. This year, we partnered with SnowCap, one of the largest food pantries in Oregon, to distribute these essential items through their established clothing pantry program.

Meeting Essential Needs

As temperatures dropped at the beginning of winter, the KMR Group Foundation identified an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in our community. We donated over 100 coats to local families through SnowCap, carefully selected to provide maximum warmth and functionality during the winter season.

Kirsten Wageman, Executive Director of SnowCap, emphasized the impact of these donations: “The donation of coats from KMR are going to make a huge difference because it’s really one person, one coat. And it’s so exciting because a lot of times moms come in with their children or for themselves and they haven’t had a coat in a long time or a coat that fit right.”

These weren’t just any coats – each was thoughtfully chosen with specific features in mind. Every coat included practical elements such as pockets for storing essentials, hoods for additional protection against the elements, and was either a raincoat or puffer jacket to withstand various weather conditions. These elements that many of us take for granted are especially important for people who don’t have the luxury of choice. The coats were selected to be standalone outerwear rather than layering pieces, ensuring recipients would have comprehensive protection from the cold.

Creating Personal Connections

The stories behind these donations often reveal their true impact. As Kirsten shared from her experience at SnowCap: “Last year there was a little boy who came in and he had a coat and the sleeves were up to his elbows. He clearly was many sizes too large for the coat he was wearing… A volunteer pulled out a coat from a pile of donations and was like, ‘I thought this was it. It’s gonna work for him.’ And she held out the coat, and he said, ‘Mom, it’s for me!’ And he went, he put it on, he was so excited, holding up his collar, and just felt really proud that he was gonna have one for school.”

These moments highlight why thoughtfully selected items matter. “Each of these coats is going to create its own story with the person that finds it,” Kirsten noted.

Inclusivity in Action

In keeping with our Foundation’s values of inclusivity and equal access, we selected coats in gender-neutral colors to ensure they could be distributed to the maximum number of people. The collection included sizes ranging from 12 months to adult, addressing the needs of our entire community from the youngest to the oldest.

This approach aligns with SnowCap’s mission, which Kirsten described simply as “to feed and clothe our neighbors in need.” What makes their clothing program particularly valuable is that it’s “the only free clothing program open year round to anyone who needs help. So that includes children, elders, parents, everybody.”

Empowering Families

One aspect of SnowCap’s philosophy that resonates deeply with KMR’s approach is their focus on empowering parents. “At SnowCap we really think it’s important for parents to be able to provide for their children and so we make sure that anything that we’re providing to families flows through mom and dad, rather than directly from SnowCap volunteers,” Kirsten explained.

This philosophy recognizes the dignity in allowing parents to be the providers. As Kirsten notes, “Parents and caregivers stand a little taller when you can provide for your family.”

Beyond Basic Assistance

For over two decades, the KMR Group Foundation has provided support to the underserved in our communities, investing in the future by supporting acts of compassion. The winter coat initiative embodies this philosophy, going beyond basic assistance to provide items that offer both practical utility and dignity.

Organizations like SnowCap make this work possible by efficiently distributing donations. “Volunteers are the engine behind SnowCap’s work,” Kirsten shared, explaining that with just 12 paid staff members, they rely on approximately 1,000 volunteers to serve an astonishing 12,500 to 14,000 individuals per month.

Looking Forward

The KMR Group Foundation continues its commitment to bolstering underserved communities, both locally and globally. As Kirsten reflected on partnerships like ours: “Working with groups like the KMR Group Foundation is huge for us because we don’t exist if the community doesn’t come together and support SnowCap’s work.”

For more uplifting news, follow along as we continue supporting programs that empower communities.