GREENFIELD — With winter right around the corner, the annual Warm the Children fundraising drive is gearing up to supply coats and clothing to children in need in Franklin County and the North Quabbin region.

Warm the Children was started by the Greenfield Recorder in 1993 and the annual winter donation drive runs through the end of December. Last year, the drive provided new coats and clothes to about 840 children, raising more than $50,000 to cover expenses.

“Warm the Children is very important to the community and we truly appreciate all of the support from donors,” said Recorder Business Manager Patti Wasilewski, who coordinates the donation drive in partnership with Community Action Pioneer Valley. “It takes care of the needs of a lot of area children.”

All newspaper advertisements, and many fundraising costs, are donated by the Recorder and donations to Warm the Children, which are tax-deductible, are placed in an account overseen by the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts. Warm the Children recipients are suggested by various social service agencies and community organizations.

The Recorder has a partnership with Target to provide gift cards to beneficiaries and these gift cards are provided to Community Action for distribution. They can be used in the store or online to buy clothing for each qualifying child, 12 years old or younger.

The success of Warm the Children is also due in large part to community volunteers who hold their own fundraisers, while civic groups and businesses contribute with donations and by organizing fundraising efforts.

“Warm the Children is special because it creates the vehicle for the community to come together to help its youngest neighbors in need,” said Recorder Publisher Shawn Palmer.

“I’m so proud that Recorder employees have continued to lead Warm the Children for the past 32 years,” Palmer said. “Of course each donor deserves our thanks and appreciation for their contributions, but our local partners, who truly understand the needs of the community, ensure that our collective help reaches those with the greatest need.”

Traditionally, the Recorder shares stories of donors and recipients during the fundraising campaign with the goal of inspiring others to donate.

One of the longest running donors has been the Greenfield Tae Kwon Do Center, which holds a yearly “Break-athon,” in which students break boards to raise money. The center started hosting the event for Warm the Children in 2002, and last year raised $6,308 for the drive. The center eclipsed the $100,000 mark in donations in 2021.

Other fundraising drives to benefit Warm the Children in the past have included a spaghetti dinner sponsored by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, the Kiwanis Warm the Children Golf Tournament, donations by local artists and businesses, and even dozens of crocheted baby hats donated to the charity by Erving resident Karen Harrington.

The Recorder seeks stories about those who have a tradition of giving to Warm the Children and is interested in letting readers know about fundraisers dedicated to the drive.

Email contact information to Managing Editor Shelby Brock at sbrock@recorder.com and a reporter will be assigned to feature fundraising activity in stories the newspaper does during the Warm the Children campaign.

Anyone who would like to send tax-deductible donations can do so online at recorder.com by clicking the Warm the Children “Donate Here” feature at the top left of the homepage. Donations also can be sent to Greenfield Recorder, Warm the Children Fund, P.O. Box 1367, 14 Hope St., Greenfield, MA 01301.