One woman inspired Coats for Kids founder Don Rosen, 91

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Don Rosen, 91, still remembers the day more than 25 years ago that inspired him to start the annual Coats for Kids program.

Rosen, founder of Pilgrim Cleaners, was working in one of his stores when a woman came in with her son and asked if there was a used winter coat her son could have. He badly needed a coat, but she couldn’t afford one.

The scene wrenched Rosen’s heart, and he dug around until he found an old coat that was about the right size. When the boy tried it on, it fit. The woman broke down.

“She started crying,” Rosen said. “It was just exactly what she was looking for, and she needed it so badly.” See more in Jonathan Young’s Sun Post story.