The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

Last year, a Bridge City girl sought to give local children a Christmas they probably would not have received. Destiny Coates, a senior at Bridge City High School, distributed donation boxes throughout the community and asked the public to donate purses, bags, toys, cosmetics and toiletries that she would then distribute to children and mothers in local shelters.

This year, Destiny continues her passion for helping people by asking the community to donate something a little more special this holiday season: formal/party dresses of all sizes, purses, shoes and accessories.

“I wanted to do something different,” Coates said. “Last year I did toys and I try to change it up every year. Girls like to dress up and feel pretty, especially girls my age. They can’t just go buy expensive dresses or have families that can afford dresses like that. I wanted them to be able to have a nice dress and feel pretty at their [school] dances.”

She plans on taking the dresses and accessories to Girls Haven in Beaumont so they may be able to attend their Christmas/Winter formals in a dress that would make them feel beautiful and special. She has collected 15 so far, some of them were her own dresses and some were donations from Twins Resale and Clayton’s Consignment in Bridge City. Dresses and accessories maybe dropped off at the two consignment shops, located on Texas Ave, until next Wednesday, Dec. 14.

Destiny’s passion has driven her to help others for as long as she can remember. She volunteered for the Red Cross at Baptist Hospital in Orange two summers ago, has adopted grandparents and has volunteered with Feed the Children.

Last Christmas, she was able to help 37 children with the “Destiny’s Angel Bags.” She explained that being able to give the children and women something, anything at Christmas gave her a feeling that will not be forgotten.

“When I went to give them the toys, it brought tears to my eyes because they were so excited,” Coates said. “Being able to give them everything that I could was the best feeling ever.”

Destiny and her mother, Angie, are so grateful for all of the donations they received last year and hope this year will be as much of a success.

Destiny is Varsity Cheerleader at BCHS, a straight ‘A’ student, Criminal Justice Club President, co-head director of ‘Meet in the middle,’ and a member of the BCTV.

She plans on attending Lamar State College-Orange for Criminal Justice. She wants to become a 9-1-1 dispatcher to help save lives.

“I love to help people,” she said. “Why not help those that need help? I’ve always wanted to change the world.”

Destiny and Angie would like to thank Twins Resale and Clayton’s Consignment for their donations and for being a drop-off location for donations.