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Let’s work together to share the magic of the season! The Pea Island Preservation Society, Inc. (PISPI) will be holding the fourth annual Dellerva Collins Coat Drive for Kids on Saturday, December 9 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.

The annual coat drive is named in honor of Dellerva Collins, the first black woman to become a Manteo town commissioner. This remarkable woman served for over 26 years, some of which as mayor pro tem. She played a key role in the decision that was made to move and restore the Cookhouse building, which was once located at U.S. Coast Guard Station Pea Island before it was decommissioned in March of 1947.

A tireless advocate for promoting the black history of Roanoke Island and helping those in need, Collins, who died in 2005, is fondly remembered today for her leadership and vision. Joan Collins, PIPSI’s director of outreach and education, shared, “December 9th is the perfect day to remember my Aunt Dell, as I called her, and to help those in need. Her vision is also one of the main reasons the Pea Island Cookhouse Museum stands on Roanoke Island today. We want the Cookhouse Museum to be a focal point for learning about the black history of this area and promoting equality and fair treatment for all.”

The Cookhouse Museum is located at Collins Park, located at 622 Sir Walter Raleigh Street in Manteo. Community members are asked to bring a donation and join PIPSI board members in celebrating the magic of the season. The park will be festive with Christmas music, carolers, cookies and plenty of hot chocolate to warm hands and hearts this December.

New coat and jacket donations will be furnished to Dare County Social Services for children in need. Non-perishable items and monetary donations will be furnished to a local non-profit chosen by the PIPSI board of directors.

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