The “Warm Up Winter” team at Casey Printing talked the talk and walked the walk as they gathered and distributed 423 items of warm winter clothing to those in need this Christmas season.


Concerned about the economic slowdown and rising unemployment, the Casey team scoured their own closets, as well as approaching neighbors, friends and relatives, to gather warm winter clothing, especially coats and sweaters, that were brought to the Casey Printing warehouse. As word spread, other local groups got involved, like the 4H, and numerous local companies, and brought warm garments to the Casey Printing plant for storage.


“The response from the employees, and other members of the community, was terrific,” said Romona Bender, Casey customer service rep and organizer of the project. “Once the word got out that we were looking for warm winter clothing, it caught on like wild fire and the coats and sweaters just started rolling in,” she exclaimed.


Once gathered, Casey Printing employees made arrangements to deliver some of the children’s sizes of the warm winter clothing to local schools, where teachers and administrators distributed them to the appropriate students. More of the children’s garments went to the Southern Monterey County Rural Fire Dept’s children’s outreach program. The balance of the children’s sizes, and the all the adult sizes, went to the Salvation Army’s rural outreach program, Loaves and Fishes (the King City food bank program) Victory Outreach in Soledad and the King City Police Dept.


“Its tough out there for many people right now, and we are extremely grateful for everyone’s support of this project” commented Casey co-owner, Richard Casey. “The donations from employees, and all the other organizations, companies and individuals was heartwarming, especially in this time of extreme need. We even had people going out and purchasing brand new clothing items for donation.”


With such an enthusiastic response this year, the Casey team plans to tackle the project again in 2009. “We will be ready to do it again next Christmas season” said Casey customer service rep Erinn Pozzi. “Keep us in mind this coming year and hang on to those coats and sweaters until next December,” she added.