As temperatures drop and winter approaches, many community members rely on donated coats to help them keep warm.
United Way KFL&A is encouraging the community to help once again during the fourth annual coat drive.
As they begin to change over closets for the winter, community members are asked to please donate clean, new or gently used winter adult outerwear. The only requirement is that coats must be washable (no leather or heavy wool), and in good condition.
To make donating easy, bins are available to drop off winter coats at the United Way office, Kingston City Hall, and branches of the Kingston Frontenac Public Library and Lennox & Addington Library.
“Last year over 1,300 items were donated during the Coats for Community drive and they went immediately to helping our community members in need. Thank you to all those who generously donated through the previous drives, our volunteers and partners who make this possible,” said John DiPaolo, President and CEO, United Way KFL&A. “I know that our caring and compassionate community will step up once again.”
As donations are received, volunteers will sort and distribute coats to agencies throughout KFL&A.
Financial donations are also accepted and needed to help United Way purchase coats for people who need specialty sizes and fill in the gaps. People can make a donation at www.unitedwaykfla.ca/donate/– they’re asked to indicate the donation is for the Coat Drive in the notes box – or call 613-542-2674 to donate.
“Winter coats can be costly. If you are living on a fixed income or in poverty, then it is nearly impossible to buy a new coat,” said Leigh Martins, with Kingston Interval House, one of the agencies that receives donated coats. “Every year we have a lot of the people we serve reach out to us because they don’t have a warm coat to wear. The United Way coat drive allows this wonderful community to donate their gently used coats and our clients to stay warm in winter.”
Items can be dropped off locally in collection bins from Oct. 23rd – Nov. 13 in Lennox & Addington at the Napanee Branch Library, 25 River Road and Amherstview Branch Library, 322 Amherst Drive, Mon – Thu, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Fri – Sat, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.