MANSFIELD, Ohio – With 13 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, it’s easy to see how Pat Graska has a warm spot in her heart for children.
Thanks to Graska and her Lexington neighbor, Judith Wright, almost two dozen local children will be a bit warmer this winter, too.
Graska contacted Richland County Children Services on Wednesday morning to see if the agency could use new coats for children. Assured the coats would be put to quick usage, Graska and Wright headed to Sears at the Richland Mall.
“I had heard on the radio about how some girl had collected 1,000 coats for children, probably by going door-to-door,” Graska said. “I thought that sounded pretty good. I knew Sears had them on sale and I decided I would just go and get some.
“I called my next-door neighbor and she wanted to go too. So we headed out to Sears.”
Between then, the two Hampton Road women purchased 23 coats of various sizes and colors and brought them straight to the agency on Wednesday afternoon.
Richland County Children Services employees planned to quickly distribute the new coats to the children whose families are now working with the agency. Potential recipients could include families with open cases at the agency, foster children, youngsters in Kinship care, etc.
“We are thrilled when people in the community think about the children and families being served by this agency,” said Tim Harless, director of community outreach and programming. “What a great way for a child to start the new year — with a new warm coat. We can’t thank these women enough for their donation.”
For more information about RCCS or to report suspected child abuse or neglect, call the agency 24-hour hotline at 419-774-4100. You can also visit the agency Web site at www.richlandcountychildrenservices.org or find the agency on Facebook.
“The Lord has blessed me and I just want to give back,” Graska said.
(Carl Hunnell is the public information and community outreach supervisor for Richland County Children Services.)
