Beginning Sunday, Adams Homes will be collecting slightly used coats and food for those in need in the community.

Linda Reilly, a Realtor for the Parish Lakes community in Foley said while children do need toys during the holiday season, there is a more pressing need for food to fill their stomachs and warm winter coats to keep them from freezing.    

Because of the pressing need caused by the economy, Reilly said all 19 of the Adams Homes locations in Baldwin County have decided to collect food and coats instead of toys for the second year in a row.

“We have done Toys for Tots for a couple of years, and last year we started with the food drive. Due to the economy, the food hit us. We knew people needed the food so desperately,” said Reilly.

Last year at a local sales meeting, Reilly and other Realtors with Adams Homes asked “What are we going to do for the poor that is really needed.”

“Toys are wonderful,” she said. “but the kids are going to get it. We are all going to end up buying toys. We are all going to wind up dropping this off for Toys for Tots somewhere because we all do it every year.”

She also said the National Association of Realtors has been sponsoring a coat drive, so Adams Homes have also started collecting lightly used coats.

Reilly said all donations can be dropped off at any of the Adams model homes, including Parish Lakes off of Juniper Street in Foley and Bay Branch Villas on U.S. 90 in Daphne beginning Sunday through Dec. 5.

Reilly invites anyone who would like to drop off a donation on Sunday to stop in the Parish Lakes model home from 1-4 p.m. for wine and cheese.

Reilly has also purchased two large gift baskets and a $100 gift certificate to Tanger Outlets. Each donation will also receive a chance to win.

“We figured that is our contribution to it, besides bringing in food and coats ourselves,” said Reilly.

All of the donations will be split between Ecumenical Ministries, Catholic Charities and the Salvation Army.

Reilly hopes this year more donations are dropped off than in previous years.

“We did it last year — it wasn’t a poor result — but it wasn’t as great as we hoped it would be,” said Reilly.

Because the economy is still struggling, Reilly hopes the food and coats donated help those in need in this area.

“We are trying to make it very festive and in the holiday spirit, to make people feel like they are doing something good. It is such a poor economy. We are still going to do the toys, but we need food. These people need the food,” Reilly said.