CLEVELAND — For more than 40 years, Coats for Kids Cleveland has been collecting and providing coats to children in need. And although the organization’s mission remains the same, it will be approaching that mission in a brand-new way this year.
“For the first time ever and going forward we are discontinuing the donated coats portion of our campaign,” said Debbie Martinko, Executive Director of Coats For Kids Cleveland.
Instead, the organization has announced that it will only accept financial donations.
It’s a big departure from years past, when Coats for Kids collection bins were spread out all over the region and the nonprofit was well known for collecting, cleaning and sorting used coats.
Going forward, the organization will concentrate solely on financial donations in order to purchase new winter coats tailored by size, gender and gender-neutral options.
“Donating coats is a huge undertaking in terms of getting collections barrels out, participating locations, and then having a way to then pick up the coats that have been donated and get them back,” said Martinko. “The benefit of new coats is that we are able to order and purchase exactly what we need.”
Participants can either donate online or stop by a participating Northern Ohio Discount Drug Mart store to buy a $1 paper coat. In return customers will receive a $1 off coupon for Energizer batteries, valid through the end of the year. Discount Drug Mart's campaign runs through Nov. 28.
If you have a gently used winter coat that you would like to donate, Coats For Kids asks that you donate to other local organizations accepting coats such as Cuyahoga Recycles.
“And I am proud to say it’s our 42nd year. As much as you’d like to think the need would go away, it never does,” said Martinko. “Our focus is getting coats out right now.”
Martinko also stated that she hopes to distribute all the coats by the end of December.
For more information or to donate, visit coatsforkidscleveland.org.