Cedar One and WTOV present Coats for Kids proceeds to Salvation Army

Thank you to WTOV9 & Reporter Paul Giannamore & WTOV9 for the great coverage on this story!

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Ohio — Cedar One and WTOV presented proceeds from the Coats for Kids drive to Salvation Army leaders from across the region on Tuesday.

Cedar One joined the WTOV Coats for Kids effort this year, which has continued to meet with success.

"It's been a phenomenal partnership," said Joe Luckino, owner of Cedar One Group. "It's been a lot easier than I thought actually. We have a lot of generous people in the valley, a lot of phone calls we make, people jump on it right away. We were thrilled with the results we got, especially when you wake up this morning, and look at the weather, it's minus 9. It's a great time for Coats for Kids."

Checks were presented to Salvation Army leaders from Northeast Ohio.

"It's been wonderful to know that the phrase, 'It takes a village,' we're that village," said Jodi Kellar, service extension director for the Salvation Army in Northeast Ohio. "So with Cedar One and WTOV, we're the village and we're going to continue to help people."

Leaders from Ohio, Marshall, Wetzel, and Tyler counties emphasized the impact of the initiative on local families. John Lawrence, core officer for these counties, along with his wife, Lt. Candace Lawrence, shared their experiences.

"This is a way for us to help them provide for their child," John Lawrence said. "We've seen children walk out the door so excited to get outside and zip that coat up and get outside and play in the snow because they didn't have one beforehand."

In its first year of receiving help from Coats for Kids, Tom Kenny, director of the Harrison County-Cadiz Salvation Army unit, said they are actively spreading the word about how to get assistance.