Spire donates more than 500 coats to help keep children warm this winter 

The energy provider delivers coats to 12 schools in Western Missouri   

KANSAS CITY (Dec. 9, 2021) — As part of Spire’s commitment to the communities it serves, the natural gas provider is donating and delivering 500 coats to 12 schools in Lee’s Summit, St. Joseph, Kansas City, Joplin and Monett to help children stay warm this winter. 

“At Spire, we care deeply about our communities and the people we serve,” said Katie Shirey, a Spire corrosion specialist in St. Joseph who helped organize the giveaway. “That’s why we’re providing coats and gloves to schoolchildren in our area who need them. Knowing that we are helping to keep kids warm all winter long makes me proud to be part of a team that cares and gives back.”

For many, a new coat is a luxury. According to the national organization One Warm Coat, 1 in 7 Americans are currently living below the poverty threshold and don’t have access to basics such as adequate food, water and shelter. 

“At Spire, our priority is making sure that communities have access to warmth when they need it most,” said Steve Mills, Spire vice president and general manager for western Missouri. “Children are a special part of our communities – they are the future. So providing coats to help protect them during colder months is critical. As a company, we’ll continue to look for opportunities to step up and serve our most vulnerable populations.”

Earlier this year as a part of its community efforts, Spire donated more than 4,000 bottles of hand sanitizer, 2,000 reusable water bottles and 900 packs of sanitizing wipes to three Kansas City public schools to help reduce the spread of the coronavirus.