Meet Your Neighbor: Susie's Coats keeps hundreds warmer

WOODVILLE - As a child, Susan Perry experienced things children shouldn’t know about — domestic violence, poverty and homelessness. Her family often lived in her mother’s car on the streets of Toledo. One winter, the only coat she owned was a bright red woman’s coat with gold buttons that stretched down her tiny frame all the way to the floor.

Susan Perry holds one of the thousands of new coats she will give away. Perry’s passion for keeping children warm stems from her own difficult childhood.

“I told my mom I couldn’t wear it, because I was too embarrassed,” Perry said. “But she said it was the only thing she had to keep me warm.”

Decades later, the sting of that humiliation still piercing, she decided to celebrate her 50th birthday by donating 50 coats to the needy.

“My daughter and I collected 50 coats and went to an area of Toledo to give them away. We were mobbed, but in a good way, and I saw a need,” she said.

That was 13 years ago, and since then, Perry and her volunteers have distributed thousands of winter items, including coats and other warm winter wear, through her non-profit, Susie’s Coats. The organization gave away 4,000 coats this year alone.

Although the adult coats are sometimes slightly used, all of the donated children’s coats are brand new. Perry doesn’t want another child to feel the humiliation of wearing a used coat that doesn’t fit and doesn’t match their personality.

“Children deserve a new coat. They just do,” she said.

About 40 volunteers help Perry with Susie’s Coats, including former Woodville mayor Rich Harman, who helped Susie’s Coats receive a $3,000 donation from the Woodville Golf Outing; and board member Amy Blausey, who connected Perry with Solomon Lutheran Church, which donates the use of the parsonage for storage space. 

“As a result of Amy’s advocacy, we have this space,” Perry said as she stood among piles of new coats inside the parsonage. “Our inventory is dynamic. It fluctuates so much, so it’s been hard to find and keep space, but we have this because of the generosity of Solomon Lutheran Church.”

Other supporters include Harley Davidson, which provides transportation for volunteers and coats to the annual Toledo distribution; Pro-Pak Industries, which provides donation bins; and Davis Besse, which donated 100 new coats this year. Woodmore Middle School students donate concession stand popcorn sales to Susie’s Coats.

“Our middle school has worked with Susie and Susie’s Coats for a number of years as one of our charities. Susie is a kind and caring person who has spent countless hours paying it forward,” said Woodmore Middle School Principal Kevin Ball.

“I try to teach our students at an early age how important it is to help others in need and I use Susie and her organization as a great example of making the world a better place. Last year alone our middle school kids donated over $3,000 to her organization.”x

But Susie’s Coats needs continued support to meet the great need in Northwest Ohio. Currently, Perry distributes coats through schools and organizations in Sandusky, Lucas, Wood and Fulton counties and southern Michigan. During the annual distribution in November, 1,900 people received coats in three hours.

“The big thing is, she needs money. It takes a village,” Harman said.

Perry knows that a winter coat is more than just a piece of clothing.

“If we can keep our children warm, then they can feel safe,” she said. “And when they feel safe, they are truly more hopeful about tomorrow.”

Susie’s Coats accepts donations of money and new coats all year long, and Perry said this is the best time to find great deals on coats as stores thin their stocks of winter items. Monetary donations can be made through the Susie’s Coats 2019-2020 Campaign Go Fund Me Page. A link can be found on the Susie’s Coats Facebook page or at susiescoats.org.