This is why 120 coats are hanging on the ‘Wall of Warmth’ in Idaho Falls
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IDAHO FALLS — If you drive by Action Motor Sports this week, you’ll likely notice dozens of coats hanging on a fence along Lincoln Road.
It’s called the “Wall of Warmth” and anyone needing a coat this winter is welcome to take one for free. Valorie Smith, a local real estate agent, came up with the idea.
“I was reading stories of people in need in our area and they were heartbreaking,” Smith says. “I reached out to all my clients that I had sold homes to in the last two years and they all pitched together with friends and family to get the coats collected.”
Smith wasn’t sure what to do with all the coats until she was driving by Action Motor Sports recently. She saw a long fence and realized that would be the perfect place to hang them for the public to see.
She approached store management and they were thrilled to participate.
“We have 120 coats for people of all ages – kids and adults,” Smith says. “They’ll be on the fence until they are gone and if we have any left after Christmas, we will donate them to the Women’s Crisis Center.”
People interested in donating coats to the “Wall of Warmth” can visit Action Motor Sports for a plastic bag, hanger and tag before hanging them on the fence.
“We just hope we can keep those people warm who need it this winter,” Smith says.