AUSTIN, Texas — Ahead of the drop in temperatures next week, one group is working to make sure Austinites stay warm.
Urban Alchemy hosted a coat giveaway on Saturday at Elm Ridge Apartments in East Austin.
The event included coats collected from the Coats for Kids drive. KVUE was a partner in the drive, alongside The Junior League of Austin, Jack Brown Cleaners and iHeartRadio.
“The donations [have] been a great thing,” said Michael Duque, project director of Urban Alchemy. “Thank you, Coats for Kids, for the opportunity to give us a chance to go back into our community personally and pour these things back to these kids individually.”
A grant from the U.S. Department of Justice is funding Saturday’s giveaway as well as other efforts to provide resources to residents in lower income areas of East Austin.
“It helps out real good out here,” said Diana Ramos, a resident and coat recipient, about Saturday’s event. “It helps out with a lot of people that needs it.”
Duque grew up in the same complex from the 1980s to 2000s.
“It means a lot to me personally,” said Duque. “I watched my Aunt Blanche and my grandma struggle here to provide a place for us to live and to provide resources for us as kids, and just to be here now and to give back when I used to be one of these kids here out of here committing crimes or getting in trouble and stuff. Now, it feels great to be here, to inspire and motivate these young kids.”
Duque hopes to give away coats each weekend at a different spot.
Urban Alchemy officials are urging landlords of low-income apartment buildings in the 78702, 78721 and 78723 ZIP codes who are interested in hosting a coat giveaway to reach out.