From left to right, Dan Griess, Crye-Leike Ooltewah, managing broker; Linda Finch, site manager, Piney Woods Parent Center; Judie Morton, Crye-Leike agent, and Coats For Kids coordinator; Cynthia Blakemore, coordinator of Homeless Ed. Program and Rob Hatchett, Crye-Leike Regional VP.
Nearly 100 winter coats have been donated so far as Crye-Leike, Realtors agent Judie Morton embarks on the second year of a community crusade to deliver warm winter coats to needy school children across Hamilton County. Ms. Morton is a realtor based out of the company's Ooltewah, Tennessee branch office.
"Last winter I observed two little boys walking to a bus stop without coats," said Ms. Morton. "The outside temperature was 23 degrees. It just broke my heart that any child in our community would not have a coat to wear to school."
Ms. Morton is coordinating her coats campaign effort with the Hamilton County Schools Homeless Education Program and its Director Cynthia Blakemore. The program identifies children who have no permanent home and are often living temporarily with relatives, friends, in local shelters, abandoned buildings or on the streets. The program's motto is, "Assisting Families In Transition."
"So last year we decided to ask Crye-Leike agents to donate a new or nearly new coat for these kids," said Ms. Morton. "We had tremendous participation."
When she contacted the school system, she was told by an official that out of the 40,000 Hamilton County children enrolled in school, 10,000 need help with clothing so they can attend school. So far this year ,Crye-Leike has delivered more than 80 coats to Hamilton County Schools Homeless Education Program for distribution to children by the school system's social workers.
"Everyone in the office has been inspired by Judie," said Dan Griess, Crye-Leike Ooltewah managing broker. "We've all reached out to our friends, neighbors and past clients this year to really have an impact and get coats to as many children as possible."
The Hamilton county School Homeless Education Program is located at 6703 Bonny Oaks Drive in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Coordinator Cynthia Blakemore can be reach by phone at 423 867-6200.
Crye-Leike Agent Judie Morton is an affiliate broker in the company's Ooltewah branch office located at 5913 Main Street in Ooltewah. To learn more about the Coats For Kids Campaign, contact Crye-Leike's Judie Morton at 423 243-6666 and you can email her at judie.morton@crye-leike.com.