County to collect coats for winter

SAN BENITO — Have a coat that doesn’t fit or some blankets that you are looking to get rid of?

The Cameron County Social Services program will be collecting lightly-used coats and blankets for the winter season.

Coats and blankets collected will benefit the Families with Children and Special Healthcare Needs program.

According to Cameron County Social Services program Director Santos Castaneda, the Cameron County Public Health department assists 150 families with special needs children up to the age of 21.

“All families that receive our services are low-income and live below the poverty line,” Castaneda said.

The coat and blanket drive will help the clients of social services stay warm until the end of winter.

Castaneda said she hopes the collection brings in at least 100 coats or blankets for the children and their families.

Once the coats and blankets are collected, Castaneda said the department will begin contacting the families to inform them of available coats and jackets.

“We will basically reach out and we can then go to their homes and drop them off or they can come into the office and pick them up,” Castaneda said.

Extra coats will stay in the offices where clients coming in will be able to pick up a coat or blanket as needed.

“We would like to be able to help the people that just ask for that service,” Castaneda said.