The following announcement was provided by Caring Partners’ Coats for Kids & Families:
In hard economic times and cooler weather, a warm coat isn’t a luxury… it is a necessity. In every community, there are thousands of children and adults who may otherwise not have access to warm winter coats this winter. As New England’s largest coat drive for nearly 30 years, Caring Partners’ Coats for Kids & Families collects gently used coats of all sizes and for all ages from October 2nd through January 7th. After collection, the coats are professionally cleaned by Anton’s and given to local nonprofits, social service agencies, and schools for distribution. This year, the goal is to collect 50,000 warm coats for those in need.
School groups, corporations, communities, neighborhoods, and kind individuals are all welcome to donate coats for children and adults at all Anton’s Cleaners, Jordan’s Furniture, and Enterprise Bank locations as well as at Watertown Middle School, 68 Waverly Ave., now through January 7th.
Sponsored by Anton’s Cleaners, Enterprise Bank, and Jordan’s Furniture, Coats for Kids & Families has collected, cleaned, and distributed 1,212,369 free coats at more than 70 collection locations and events since the program began in 1995.
Coats for Kids & Families accepts warm winter coats that are new or 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 does the drive accept sweatshirts, vests and spring coats, boots, scarves, or gloves.
“For nearly three decades, Caring Partners has had one mission: anyone who needs a coat will have one,” said Arthur Anton Jr., COO of Anton’s Cleaners and founder of the program. “Local schools, companies, clubs, and nonprofits collaborate each year to collect, clean and distribute 50,000 winter coats – a miraculous feat. This program gives back directly to the communities we serve, and we are proud to keep this program going as we approach three decades of service.”
According to Eliot Tatelman, President of Jordan’s Furniture, “We are happy to continue our
long-running support of Coats for Kids & Families, helping to make sure that anyone who needs a warm, winter coat will have one. And funding the School Rewards Program is so important. It not only provides an extra incentive to the schools, it also teaches the students a meaningful lesson about helping the community around them. We are proud to, again, be a part of this wonderful program.”
According to Jack Clancy, CEO of Enterprise Bank, “We are honored to once again be supporting Coats for Kids & Families in their mission to collect coats for those in need,” said Jack Clancy, CEO of Enterprise Bank. “Each year, I am deeply moved and humbled by the outpouring of support from our communities and our very own Enterprise family.”
School groups are critical to the program’s success. Each year, more than 200 dedicated school groups are responsible for half of all coat collections. Local public, parochial, and independent schools experience the rewards of community service and get incentivized through the School Rewards Program™ offering six $1000 prizes to schools that collect the most coats per capita – leveling the playing field so everyone has a chance to win. See the website for the registration form and details: antons.com/cfk.
Partners for this year’s Coats for Kids & Families drive include Anton’s Cleaners, Enterprise Bank, Jordan’s Furniture, Boston 25, KISS 108, JAM’N 94.5, 101.7 The Bull, 100.7 WZLX, WRKO, and WBZ News Radio.
For more information, contact Stephanie Littlefield, Anton’s Cleaners Community Relations, at 978-851-3721 x15 or Stephanie@antons.com. To register your school or company online to participate or donate, or for more information, visit http://antons.com/cfk.