Holiday coat drive wraps children in warmth

Every year, the rehabilitation team at JML Care Center in Falmouth organizes a holiday coat drive for children up to age 10 and then donates the items to the Falmouth Service Center. “It is a nice thing to do around the holidays, and, yes, it can feel rewarding and like you are giving something back to the community,” says JML physical therapist Heather Shepley.

“But the main reason we do this coat drive is that no child should be cold,” says Shepley. “It’s as simple as that.”

Shepley says the rehab team follows the direction and needs of the Falmouth Service Center. In the past, they have organized toy drives, but over time, the “ask” has shifted to new hats, coats and gloves. “We change as the needs of the community change,” says Shepley.

The entire JML rehab department has been participating in these drives for as long as Shepley can remember. “We’ve always kind of gotten together to donate around the holiday season,” says Shepley, adding their annual collections have never been highly publicized events. “As a department, we really bond over knowing we are making a difference and helping children to stay warm.”

First row: Deb Lopes, rehab specialist; Sheryl Stone, OT and Director of Rehab; Murdock Rogers, PTA; Eileen McLeod, COTA; Heather Shepley, PT
Second row: Cherry Valencia, PT; Kayleigh Pelletier, COTA; Reagan Dennison, OT; Jessica Ellis, OT; Kristin Fraser, PTA