Spreading Holiday Cheer: One Tinley Park's Second Annual Coat Drive To Benefit Together We Cope

Country Club Hills IL

17 November, 2020

1:54 PM

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From the Richard Free Press: By Jon DePaolis TINLEY PARK, Ill. — This holiday season, the One Tinley Park political party is hoping to help give back to those less fortunate. One Tinley Park is holding its second annual Holiday Coat Drive from Nov. 14 to Dec. 20 to benefit Together We Cope, a Tinley Park-based charity that serves 27 south suburban communities with shelter, food and clothing. The coat drive — organized by Village Clerk Kristin Thirion, Trustee Michael Glotz and the One Tinley Park team — will accept coats, scarves, gloves, boots and socks at four locations: Joe Rizza Ford, 8100 W. 159th St. 7-Eleven, 17055 S. Oak Park Ave. Orland Toyota, 8505 W. 159th St. Union Bar & Grill, 17821 80th Ave. "We live in a great community, and Tinley Park has always come together when others are in need," Glotz said. "I don't see this coat drive during COVID being any different, and there is a reason Tinley Park was called the best place to raise a family." The idea for the coat drive came about in 2019. "We wanted to set the bar high for elected officials," Glotz said. "This job is more than voting at board meetings on ordinances, ribbon-cutting ceremonies and attending Village events. Kristin and I are always brainstorming on ways we can help make Tinley better than we found it and give back to our community. "With all of the different events that we are involved in, this one was one of our favorites last year. The look on Together We Cope employees' faces when we arrived with two full vans full of clothes was priceless. We will be giving a donation again, as well." This year's event presented some challenges given the COVID-19 pandemic, but Glotz said a lot of planning went into ensuring the safety of the people donating and those collecting the items. "We limited our drop-off locations to four this year instead of six for safety," Glotz said. "We are able to do this during COVID, because we have so many great friends and teammates to help pick up the clothes. Between Kristin, me, [Trustee] Bill Brennan, [Trustee] Mike Mueller, Nancy O'Connor, [Trustee] Bill Brady, Colleen Sullivan, Dennis Mahoney and Tim Janecyk, we are able to pick up the clothes several times per week." For more information about the coat drive, email [email protected] or visit www.facebook.com/OneTinleyPark. Richard Free Press is a one-stop destination for the news that most affects you, the southwest suburban resident. Be an informed citizen of the town you live in and love.