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Raynham veterans agent offers free coats

The Enterprise - 12/18/2017

RAYNHAM The town's veterans agent has redecorated her office with hundreds of new winter coats. The Raynham Veterans Service Office is giving away free winter coats to veterans and their immediate family members for as long as supplies last.

Recipients don't have to be Raynham residents and there is no income eligibility requirement, Veterans Agent Micaila Britto said.

"They are here for veterans, no matter their means, no questions asked. This is something they've earned after giving so much to their country. We want to give something back to them," Britto said Friday.

Britto drove to Cape Cod on Tuesday to the Massachusetts Military Support Foundation Inc.'s office to pick up the first batch of 300 coats and then picked up another batch of 100 coats at Ocean State Job Lot in Taunton on Friday.

As of Friday, she had already given out 53 coats, she said.

Britto said the coat drive is a joint effort of the nonprofit Massachusetts Military Support Foundation and its corporate partner, Ocean State Job Lot, which donated more than 27,000 new jackets through its "Buy Give Get Jackets" program for distribution to veterans.

Britto said the way the program works is, Job Lot customers purchased the new outerwear at the store and then donated it back to be given to veterans around the region.

Britto had the pleasure of giving the first jackets earlier this week to Raynham Army veteran Phil Donahue and his wife, she said.

"He said it was a relief to have a new coat and not have to worry about how to pay for it," Britto said.

To Britto, that was mission accomplished.

The coats are in adult sizes for both men and women.

Any veteran in need of a winter coat can contact Britto at 508-828-4527 to arrange to stop by the veterans office in Town Hall to pick it up.

Her office is open Monday through Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Fridays 8:30 a.m. to noon.