People line up to get their turn to select coats. (Photo by Adela Crandell Durkee/for Chronicle Media)

Hundreds of children will be warmer this winter thanks to the Crystal Lake Rotary Club Dawnbreakers, which mobilized its annual Coat-A-Kid collection this fall.

Nineteen area schools collected coats, hats, gloves, and boots to help the less fortunate stay warm throughout the winter. Area businesses such as Snap-On Tool, Sage, and KinderCare, joined in by delivering the coats they collected to the school pick-up locations.

Dean Solberg, 55, a Lakewood resident, got involved in Rotary because he wanted to give back to the community and because of the Clubs mission to eradicate polio. Solberg’s mother had polio and the disease had a huge impact on her life.

“Rotary Club gave me an opportunity to give back to a community that has been awesome for my family,” said Solberg.

Solberg is the Community Service Director of Crystal Lake Rotary Club Dawnbreakers.

Although the Club’s main mission is eliminating polio, 95 percent of the funds they collect goes back into the community. Between $65,000 and $95,000 goes to support the Crystal Lake community every year. Over the past 25 years of the Club’s existence, Dawnbreakers gifted the community with $1.2 million.

Racks of coats await the people from which to select. (Photo by Adela Crandell Durkee/for Chronicle Media)

Volunteers showed up Dec. 4 at the Algonquin Township Hall, 3702 Northwest Highway in Crystal Lake, to sort and distribute coats. The doors opened at 4:30. According to Solberg,

“When the doors opened, people lined up outside, many of them without a coat,” said Solberg.

If someone says they need a coat, they get a coat. Sometimes one person collects for the whole family.

The outpouring of generosity from the community touches Solberg.

“We ask for gently used coats,” he said. “Many of the coats are brand new with the tags still on them. We get tons of gloves, hats, and boots.”

The Dawnbreakers are 41 volunteers, many of them community leaders and activists from community service organizations, businesses, banks, and community colleges.

In addition to Coat-A-Kid, the Dawnbreakers hosted a breakfast Dec. 5, at The Fountains. The families of 38 children met Santa and had their Wish Lists fulfilled.

Solberg grew up in Deerfield and moved to McHenry County 15 years ago with his family. He enjoys the open space the area has to offer. He likes to spend time with his 14-year-old son and his daughter, who now attends University of Nebraska.

Dean Solberg, a Lakewood resident, got involved in Rotary because he wanted to give back to the community and because of the Clubs mission to eradicate polio. (Photo by Adela Crandell Durkee/for Chronicle Media)

Solberg owns Exact Metrology, a 3-D scanning company. The company scans large things like buildings and aircraft, and even the lions in front of the Chicago Art Institute. Sometimes the images are used in video games.

“I was just a regular kid that liked to have fun and not particularly centered on school,” Solberg said. “My success is based on hard work and sweat and being in the right place at the right time.”

Solberg’s advice to young people is to “Give back. This world is a difficult place to live in these days. Leave it a better place. The best way to do this is give back to the community.”

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— Crystal Lake Rotary Club helps warm hearts of those in need —