TEWKSBURY, Mass. — Caring Partners’ 24th Annual Coats For Kids drive to collect winter coats is happening now through Jan. 6, 2019, at all Anton’s Cleaners, Jordan’s Furniture and Enterprise Bank locations, Anton’s reports.
In 2018, the organization notes, it reached a poignant milestone: one million coats collected and distributed since the program began in 1995... 1,027,625, to be exact.
“As we kick off our 24th annual coat drive and mark this one million coat milestone, we can be proud of the simple, singular focus of the Caring Partners mission: anyone who needs a coat, will have one,” says Arthur Anton Jr., COO of Anton’s Cleaners and founder of the program.
He writes that, “When household expenses are high and temperatures are low, a warm winter coat isn’t a luxury... it is a necessity. This year, there are thousands of individuals — adults, children and infants — who will go without a warm winter coat this winter, and Coats for Kids and its legion of caring collection partners and distribution network is ready to help.”
“It is an enormous collaborative effort to bring together nearly 1,000 local partners — schools, companies, clubs, and nonprofits — to help neighbors in need. Together, we collect, clean and distribute over 40,000 winter coats to help babies, kids and adults who otherwise wouldn’t be able to keep themselves warm this winter,” Anton adds.
Coats for Kids accepts warm winter coats that are gently used, good quality, and all sizes (especially XL and infant/pre-K sizes). The drive does not accept coats with rips, tears, broken zippers, or permanent stains, nor can we accept sweatshirts, vests and spring coats.
Since coats are a necessity for both adults and kids, the cleaners relates, all donated coats are cleaned free of charge by Anton’s and distributed through distribution partners made up of major local nonprofit and social service agencies.
These partners include: Massachusetts Community Action Programs, Salvation Army, Middlesex Human Service Agency, Women’s Lunch Place, BU Medical Center Outreach Van Project, Wish Project, Community Giving Tree, Mental Health Association of Greater Lowell, Strafford County Community Action, Catholic Charities, and many more.
“Every year, the kindness of our customers who donate thousands of gently used coats continues to floor us,” says Eliot Tatelman, Jordan’s Furniture President and CEO. “We are proud to continue our support to Caring Partners’ Coats for Kids, helping families in the communities we serve.”
“We are truly honored to be involved in Caring Partners’ year-round community relations programs,” says Jack Clancy, CEO of Enterprise Bank. “Financial hardship can create a difficult series of choices, including prioritizing food and winter outerwear. Coats for Kids ensures that anyone who needs a warm winter coat will have one, a mission we fully support.”
Have a question or comment? E-mail our editor Dave Davis at [email protected].