WORCESTER COUNTY—As the cold settles in, the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office has spent the past month making sure thousands of residents won’t face winter without a warm jacket.
Throughout November, Sheriff Lew Evangelidis and members of his department fanned out across Worcester County, stopping at food programs, women’s shelters, cultural centers and youth nonprofits to deliver brand-new coats purchased through the Worcester County Reserve Deputy Sheriff’s Association. According to the announcement, the annual drive distributed 4,000 jackets this year, with more than 30 stops in Worcester alone.
The visits included Saint John’s Food for the Poor, El Buen Samaritano, the African Cultural Center, Net of Compassion, Abby’s House, Yes We Care, Andy’s Attic and the Safe Exit Initiative, among others—an array of organizations that serve people who often feel winter’s bite first.
“The sheriff’s annual winter coat drive makes an incredible difference for the vulnerable communities we support, from children to elders,” said Mari Gonzalez, executive director of El Buen Samaritano, in the release. “These coats ensure our neighbors stay warm and protected without having to sacrifice other essential needs.”
The Reserve Deputy Sheriff’s Association, a nonprofit that raises money throughout the year, funded the entire purchase of coats. The release noted that the program also relies on backing from a long list of community partners, including Saint Francis Community Health Care, Mercadante Funeral Home, the Cliff & Susan Rucker Foundation, The Krock Family & Commerce Associates, CareOne at Millbury and more than a dozen additional sponsors.
Evangelidis said the yearly routine is one he and his staff look forward to. “Handing out these coats each year is truly a joy,” he said in the announcement. “They represent far more than a warm layer for winter. They reflect a community and law enforcement organization that cares.”
Beyond Worcester, the coat deliveries reached nonprofits in both southern and northern parts of the county, part of what the department described as a regional effort to make sure residents have access to winter gear as temperatures fall.
The program, Evangelidis added in the release, continues to thrive because the public embraces it. “Every contribution directly helps make our communities stronger and safer.”
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