Maria Malavasi was following in her father’s footsteps when she first organized a coat drive six years ago.
"We started with 75 coats," said Malavasi. "Last year we collected and delivered 750."
Malavasi’s father, Mario, who owned a luncheonette at 6601 Palisade Ave. in West New York, the current site of his daughter’s real estate office, Palisadium Real Estate, always brought food and clothes to the children at nearby Public School No. 4 and St. Joseph’s school.
"These were his kids," said Malavasi, who also attended P.S. 4 when she was growing up.
Malavasi said that her goal this year is to deliver 1,000 coats to needy families and children throughout Hudson County and the surrounding area.
Just two weeks after the drive began, Malavasi already had 360 coats stored in the back room of her office.
"We deliver coats until people don’t need them anymore," she said. "When the last person calls, that is when we stop."
Malavasi collects used and new coats. Laura Andrade, a sales associate with the real estate agency and a volunteer in the coat drive, organizes the coats that are received at the office, and she sews and washes any damaged coats.
"If they need to be sewn, we sew them. Washed, we wash them," said Malavasi.
Outgrowing the area
The coat drive was done annually through the Albio Sires Women’s Club, but Malavasi said that the drive just got too big for the club’s capacity.
This year, the drive is being organized through the North Hudson Coats for Kids, a non-profit organization sponsored by Palisadium Real Estate
"We have outgrown the Women’s Club simply because they deal only with West New York residents," said Mark Quartello, broker and owner of Palisadium and co-organizer of the drive.
Word of mouth and Cablevision advertising have brought donations from – and coats to – as far away as Franklin Lakes, Mahwah and Long Island.
Getting the community involved
Although North Hudson Coats for Kids is only comprised of four members, Malavasi, Quartello, Andrade and Peggie Cibrowski, it has grown into a real community effort.
Senior citizens living in senior housing complexes, as well as local school children and businesses, donate coats, either new or used, to be delivered.
"That is really what I wanted when I started this," said Malavasi about getting the community involved in the coat drive. "I wanted to get the seniors working with the children and the community, and it worked."
The students in the Peer Group, a program for students wishing to do community service, at Public School No. 4 have been visiting different classrooms in the school to spread the word and to collect coats for the drive.
"We usually get involved with community activities, and we thought this would be a good one to do," said Christine Naranjo, an eighth-grade Peer Group member.
"This helps people who are in need," said Jonathan Arevalo, another eighth grade member of the group. "If they are cold or sick, this helps them."
Cibrowski, an advisor to the Peer Group, said the students were excited to get involved in this project. Gail Peterman is also an advisor to the group.
"This way they are learning to work with the community when they are young so when they are older they will want to do it," said Malavasi.
Each of the schools in West New York participates, as well as High Tech High School in North Bergen and Most Blessed Sacrament School in Franklin Lakes.
Many local merchants, such as Stadium Appliance, El Bambi and Little Marcy’s in West New York and Cottage Coats and Hashway Deli in North Bergen, also donate new coats for the drive.
To donate or request a coat, call 868-4700 or 902-9018.