Coats for Kids Chairman 2024-2025

Provide warmth for deserving children during cold winter months.

Families struggling to make ends meet use their scarce resources to meet the most basic needs and cannot always afford the vital essential of a new winter coat. The goal of the Coats for Kids program is to ensure that no child in north America goes without a coat during the winter season. Through the dedication of councils across the United States and Canada, hundreds of thousands of new winter coats have been distributed to children since program inception.

Councils across north America can purchase new winter coats for children in need at a discount and distribute them in their local communities. A featured program, Coats for Kids counts for two credits toward the Columbian award.

Michael S. Winkler, Coats for Kids Chairman

Coats for Kids Chairman

An Important Update on the

2024 Coats for Kids Program

Brothers,

We will need to pay use (sales) tax on our purchases this year. Please read the updated FAQs listed below carefully, with a special note to FAQ #1 and FAQ #4. The order link is now included in FAQ #1. You will notice when placing your orders that your receipt will not show what is due in use (sales) tax. Please read FAQ #4 carefully, which will show you how to calculate what you need to add to your check to cover the use (sales) tax.

I no longer receive an automatic email copy of your orders. Therefore, please email me a copy of your completed order as soon as you receive it. This will allow me to track all orders by distribution sites and assist you in determining the appropriate use (sale) tax rate.

Thank you for your strong support of this important program!

2024 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

FAQs as of July 27, 2024

FAQ #1: If my council wishes to participate in Supreme’s matching program for Coats for Kids, do we order coats we are paying for from Knightsgear or from a special State site?

Answer: To participate in the matching program, rather than using the main Coats for Kids website you must use the special Washington State Coats for Kids website created specifically for Washington State Councils. The 2024 Washington State Coats for Kids URL Order Link is https://wastatec4kids.itemorder.com

FAQ #2: How do I request matching cases from Supreme?

Answer: If you submit your order through the special Washington State Coats for Kids checkout page AND submit a copy of your order along with your payment by check to the Washington State Coats for Kids Chair Mike Winkler, your order will also serve as your matching order request. That is, the cases in your matching order will be identical to the order you paid for. Remember to provide justification on the preorder form for your matching coats request!

FAQ #3: If I order through the special Washington State Coats for Kids website, who do I make the check out to and where do I mail payment to?

Answer: Checks are to be made out to Columbus Charities. Mail the check along with a copy of your receipt to Michael Winkler, 1448 Montgomery Street, DuPont, WA 98327. Checks are due by September 11^th. The State Council is not set up to accept credit card payment. Note: Your payment must be received before the Washington State Council approves the final order. Councils that order coats on this site but do not submit payment by September 11^th will be removed from the order list before we place the order.

FAQ #4: Do I pay taxes on my coats order?

Answer: Yes, Washington State tax will be charged based upon the use (sales) tax rate for where your distribution point is located. Your order receipt will not show the use (sales) tax; therefore, you will need to refer to the below tax table to determine the sales tax to add to your payment.

*Location of Distribution Point*	*Use (Sales) Tax Rate*	*Multiply Order Cost By*
Spokane Valley	.089	1.089
Zillah	.080	1.080
Kennewick	.087	1.087
Rural Stanwood	.079	1.079
Kent	.102	1.102
Silverdale	.092	1.092
Lakewood	.101	1.101
Washougal	.085	1.085
Saint Martin’s, Lacey	.095	1.095

Example order:

Council 10652

Distribution Point Location: Lakewood, Washington

Total cost shown on electronic order form: $1,598

Use (Sales) Tax Rate for Lakewood, Washington: .101 (10.1%)

Multiplication factor (column 3 of table): 1.101

Total amount to write check for, including sales tax: $1,598 x 1.101= $1,759.40

FAQ #5: Who can order from the Washington State Coats for Kids website?

Answer: Only Washington State Councils and Assemblies can order coats through Columbus Charities using the State’s Coats for Kids website. All payments must be made by the Council or Assembly. Individual donors may contribute money to help a Council pay for coats by providing a Council or Assembly with a check payable to Columbus Charities and writing "Coats for Kids, [Council or Assembly] ####" on the memo line. The Council or Assembly will then send the donor's check(s) along with the Council's or Assembly's check to Columbus Charities.

FAQ #6: What is the time period that the Washington State Coats for Kids Chair will be accepting orders for coats?

Answer: The special Washington State Coats for Kids website will be operational from August 1 to August 31. The last day you can order from this site is August 31. The State Council will place the consolidated order with Knightsgear on September 15th. As noted above, your advance payment must be received by September 11th or your order will not be included.

FAQ #7: If my council orders our coats through the special Washington State Coats for Kids website, where will our coats be shipped to?

Answer: Both the coats your council is paying for and those approved by Supreme under the matching program will be shipped to one of our designated distribution points. The distribution points are listed below. When placing your order, you must enter the address of the distribution point closest to you. Do not enter the address of your council. You will be notified when they arrive and will need to pick up your coats from the designated distribution point.

FAQ #8: If my council doesn’t want to participate in Supreme’s matching program, can we still order coats from Knightsgear and have them shipped directly to our location (not a distribution point)?

Answer: Yes, you could still order the coats for your council through the regular Coats for Kids website at knightsgear.com but you will not receive the extra free coats as part of the State Matching Program. In this case, remember to not use the special Washington State Coats for Kids website to place your order.

FAQ #9: What are the Coats for Kids requirements to get credit for the Columbian Award?

Answer: Ordering six (6) or more cases will earn your council double credit. Ordering five (5) or less cases, purchasing locally, or doing a churchwide coat drive will earn 1 credit.

FAQ #10: Are matching coats from Supreme guaranteed?

Answer: No, however, Supreme will continue to do everything possible to support this program. While we cannot guarantee that you will receiving matching coats, our councils have been very fortunate in the past to receive matching coats and we are very appreciative of Supreme’s support.

FAQ #11: What is the minimum number of cases of coats that a Council needs to order to request matching cases?

Answer: One (1). That’s right, your Council or Assembly only needs to order one case through the special Washington State Coats for Kids website to be eligible to request matching. Your order is consolidated within the State order for your distribution point. The orders that the State places for each of the distribution sites far exceed six cases. Therefore, there is no requirement for a Council to order at least six cases to qualify for match. Remember though that you must order at least six (6) cases, not counting the cases you are requesting in match, to qualify for double credit toward the Columbian Award (See FAQ #9).

FAQ #12: Are outside entities allowed to partner with my council to help fund coats for those in need in our community?

Answer: An outside partnership may be possible, but must be fully justified. Outside entities can be listed as donors or sponsors, but only Councils or Assemblies can place the orders. Councils or Assemblies need to stay involved in the distribution of the coats to ensure that they go to those in need. Sponsors and donors can make donations by writing their checks out to Columbus Charities. Send a complete write up of your request for a partnership with an outside entity to Washington State Coats for Kids Chair, Mike Winkler.

FAQ #13: Who do I contact if I have additional questions?

Answer: Washington State Coats for Kids Chair, Mike Winkler, CoatsForKids@kofc-wa.org, cell phone (253)459-4756.

Washington State Coats for Kids Established Distribution Points

Note: When placing your order on the special Washington State website, place contact information and the address of the nearest distribution point in the SHIPPING blocks. Remember to refer to FAQ #4 and the example provided to determine the amount to add to your check to cover use (sales) tax.

Greg Hanson

Saint Mary’s Church

304 S. Adams Road

Spokane Valley, WA 99216

Email: mailto:deaconkenneth@charter.net gmandad70@gmail.com

Phone: 509-638-8535

Federico Lopez

1884 North Granger Road

Zillah, WA 98953

Email: andeparo@yahoo.com

Cell: 509-945-7222

Deacon Ken Ellis