Feeling warm and fuzzy

Olivehurst residents Maria Rosalina McVey, 5, and Heavenly Lewis, 6, plucked matching white and pink down jackets from rows of fuzzy fleece pullovers, warm wool coats and rain-resistant parkas.

"I picked it 'cause they are warm and has this fuzzy thing," Maria said, fingering the faux fur trim lining the collar. "And I like the flowers."

The girls were two of about 1,000 Yuba-Sutter residents who received free outerwear at the 13th annual Coats For Kids giveaway Saturday at Camp Singer at Bi-County Juvenile Hall in Marysville. The Sunset Buttes Lions Club had collected 2,400 coats through yard sales, thrift shops and community donations and handed them out with sweatshirts, hats and hot dogs to anyone who needed them.

Lanai Santiago-McVey brought Maria, Heavenly and her three other children in hopes of getting some much-needed warm clothing. Coats For Kids is a great program for residents like herself, she said.

"A lot of people in this county can't afford jackets," she said. "I had money for jackets or Christmas presents."

Now her sons and daughters will be able to get a gift this year, she said.

Yuba City resident William Jackson filled a bag with coats for all six of his boys, ages 2 to 19. His job with Caltrans provides the only income for his family, and he depends on programs like Coats For Kids for help.

His face lit up as he watched his sons pick out new jackets.

"It makes me want to cry," he said. "I can't afford to buy a brand-new coat. I'm a paycheck from being homeless."

The Lions Club has given away 24,000 coats in the last 12 years. Organizer Dianne Overton said she anticipated a greater need this year because of the economy and high unemployment rate.

The club gave away 2,050 coats Saturday and will donate the rest of what was not distributed to other area organizations to hand out.

Towers of coats, all laundered for free by Butler Cleaners, decorated the warehouse like a department store as volunteers helped residents pick out clothing.

Marcos Tena, a teen at Camp Singer, held hands with the children as he escorted them among the rows of jackets. It was a great feeling.

"Seeing these kids smile, coming from the background I'm coming from, I'd never thought I'd be doing this," he said.

But Coats For Kids is badly needed in this community.

"We had people out here at 7 a.m. in the morning saying 'I'm cold,'" Tena said.