Local Nonprofit Seeks Donations for Children's Winter Coats

The Village for Families & Children aims to provide 500 kids with new winter coats.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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With temperatures dropping, the nonprofit organization The Village for Families & Children is working to secure winter coats for 500 children currently served by their programs. The organization is seeking donations to fund a distribution event on February 21st, with plans for a public distribution to follow as additional needs arise.

Why it matters

Providing basic necessities like warm winter clothing is a prerequisite for The Village's other family and mental health services. Many families struggle to afford the cost of winter clothing, which can conflict with other essential expenses.

The details

The Village is accepting online donations specifically for this coat drive through February 14th. According to the organization's vice president of advancement, Derek Slap, every penny donated will be used to purchase brand-new coats for the children they serve in the Greater Hartford area. The drive on February 21st is by "invitation only" and has already been extended to families within The Village who are in need, but the nonprofit will soon host public coat drives as well.

  • The Village is accepting online donations for the coat drive through February 14th.
  • The invitation-only coat distribution event is scheduled for February 21st.

The players

The Village for Families & Children

A nonprofit organization that provides family and mental health services in the Greater Hartford area.

Derek Slap

The vice president of advancement at The Village for Families & Children.

Juan Flecha

A participant in The Village's fatherhood program.

Rosie Flecha

Juan Flecha's 3-year-old daughter, who is among the 500 children receiving coats from The Village.

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What they’re saying

“We realized about ten, 15 years ago that it's tough to focus on somebody's mental health if they don't have enough food to eat or if they're cold.”

— Derek Slap, Vice President of Advancement, The Village for Families & Children (nbcconnecticut.com)

“This takes a lot of stress out of a lot of us parents that may not have the money to buy a coat. Maybe we're struggling to pay rent, but The Village makes sure that we're all involved as a community.”

— Juan Flecha, Participant, The Village's Fatherhood Program (nbcconnecticut.com)

What’s next

The Village will soon host public coat drives in addition to the invitation-only distribution event on February 21st.

The takeaway

By providing basic necessities like warm winter coats, The Village for Families & Children is able to better support the mental health and overall well-being of the families they serve in the Greater Hartford community.