Grey Cup champion Geroy Simon was in Prince Albert last night to help kids in need get warm coats for the winter.
Simon was at the Northern Lights Casino signing autographs in exchange for donations to his Coats 4 Kids charity.
The charity was founded in Regina last year and it aims to get warm winter jackets to kids in need.
Last year alone, they were able to get a donation of 15,000 coats, but even that high of a number wasn’t able to meet the demand.
“That’s a testament to the people of Saskatchewan,” said Simon. “But we are well above that this year and we are going to get as many coats on the backs of kids as we possibly can.”
Simon said the generosity of Saskatchewan people has allowed the charity to flourish.
“Any type of worthy cause the people of Saskatchewan have been right behind us and giving us their full support.”
With the success of the charity in just a year’s time, Simon said expansion is the next step.
“I think next year we will get into Alberta and possibly BC,” said the former Roughrider. “Eventually we want to be across the country because there is a need out there and we want to fill that need.”
Coats 4 Kids has been partnering with the Knights of Columbus to help with the distribution of the coats.
Simon was recently in Buffalo Narrows as a part of a Cameco initiative to bring the coats from the charity to northern Saskatchewan communities.
A delivery of coats was recently made to Stony Rapids and Fond du Lac with plans for another delivery to Wollaston Lake and Hatchet Lake in the near future.