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'I like to make people happy'| Coats for Homeless founder drives scooter 10 miles to and from work everyday

A van would give the non-profit a chance to expand their outreach by providing fast transportation

BEAUMONT, Texas — Kimberly Pete, founder of  Coats for Homeless started her passion of helping people facing homelessness after a friend was getting rid of old coats. 

"My friend was throwing away coats while it was cold and I was like, no you cant' do that," said Pete. "We have to give that to the homeless people."

In 2015, Kimberly Pete got creative in her new found passion to serve her community. 

"Getting coats, blankets for the winter time to keep them warm," she said.

The coats are filled with food and other basic necessities for anyone who needs them. 

 Pete and her husband, Gary Faulk said that their work isn't seasonal.

"We are so much more than coats in the summertime, we make sure they have water, we do food," she said. "I want to have cool packs, we will have coolers filled with ice water."

Pete currently works at McDonald's. For years, she has driven an electric scooter for 10 miles everyday to and from work and to serve those experiencing homelessness. 

"This transportation I'm trying to get help with is not personal because I love my scooter," she said. "I do deliveries on my scooter, when there's a will, there's a way."

Now, with the growing demand, the Coats for Homeless mobile needs a bit more space.

Pete says that a van would give the non-profit a chance to expand their outreach by providing fast transportation, food, water and clothing. 

"I want to be able to get people right then and there," she said. "If they call me, I want to be able to say okay here we come."

She's asking for the community's help so that Coats for Homeless can change even more lives.

"I like to make people happy, it's rewarding both ways," said Pete. "What do you need, you need a job interview, hey, we want to help, that's the main goal."

If you would like to help the non-profit, you can donate to the GoFundMe.

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