PHOTOS: Kids get new coats in Storehouse West event

The age-old battle parents go through almost every year is never easy: One or more of their children needs a coat, they make the trip to one of the department stores, try on what seems like thousands of different coats and then when they finally find the one they like, it turns out to be too expensive. The cycle repeats the next year because children grow out of clothes at a pace most parents can barely keep up with.

To help with this battle, several volunteers from Rio Rancho, Storehouse West and Garcia Subaru in Albuquerque took on the challenge of helping kids find a new coat they like, that fits and one their parents approve of on Feb. 26 at Storehouse West.

“I was only coming to volunteer on Fridays because I am retired and I thought, ‘Oh, I’d love to do this. I want to feed the hungry’. Then I heard about them doing this with the coats, and I was like, ‘Oh, that sounds really great,'” Sharon Roberson said.

Roberson says she volunteers Wednesdays and Fridays and enjoys helping people who come in.

Storehouse West, not to be confused with Storehouse New Mexico in Albuquerque, sits on Veranda Road just off of Southern. Executive Director Victoria Flick says they not only provide food but also a variety of clothing to children in need in Sandoval County with their Kid’s Closet program.

“Some of our people come all the way from Jemez to get what they need,” she said.

But the needs stretch beyond the borders of Sandoval County. She says recently, a large Ukrainian family joined the pantry and kids closet.

It is more than a donation center, according to Flick. Storehouse West works year-round to provide goods for all and clothes for children. The difference with the Feb. 26 distribution is all the coats are manufactured by Operation Warm and paid for by Garcia Subaru.

Storehouse West Board Member Trey Cottone recently joined as a board member and says the experience has been good so far. He volunteered to help with the coat distribution.

“I was inspired to get involved with the board because of issues that tend to plague our state as a whole,” he said.

He added that whenever there is an event like the coat distribution, it’s always good.

“Not only to be a part of that aspect of it but also to be here, be present and get to see people,” he said.

The nonprofit has many coats left over, but the Kid’s Closet will be open all year.

Flick says they could always benefit from more volunteers or donors and welcomes the help. Whether it’s in the Kid’s Closet, the pantry or in the warehouse, Flick says there’s a place for everyone.

For more information on how to volunteer, visit storehousewest.org.