Mercer County boy starts coat collection for the homeless and less fortunate

A 9-year-old boy from Trenton is making sure that everyone stays warm during these cold winter months.

News 12 Staff

Feb 1, 2019, 3:42 AM

Updated 1,923 days ago

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A 9-year-old boy from Mercer County is making sure that everyone stays warm during these cold winter months.
Sandro Cunningham got the idea when he was just 6 years old.
"Him and his mother were watching something on the news about it being cold and he came up with an idea to give coats to the homeless or those less fortunate and we just backed what he wanted to do and got rolling on it,” says his father Edward Cunningham.
Through his Facebook page, Sandro collects coats, jackets, hats, gloves and even blankets and put them on a rack outside the Trenton Soup Kitchen. He gets the items from community members. But there is a stipulation.
"It doesn't have to be brand new. It can be old but I just don't want holes in them or anything,” he says.
The instructions for the coat rack are simple: take a coat if you need one, leave a coat if you can spare one.
Many people in the community say that Sandro’s coat rack is a big help.
"I’m very thankful for this because I can take care of my grandson, my daughter. It's hard out here, you know? Ain't nobody got nothing (sic) out here. Everybody struggling,” says Trenton resident Qawi.
Sandro says that his message is very simple. “Anyone can do it and it’s very easy,” he says.
“For a 9-year-old kid, that’s showing a lot of love towards a lot of people,” Qawi says.
Anyone who wishes to donate coats can drop them off outside the Trenton Soup Kitchen or contact Sandro through his Facebook page.


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