What is Coats for Kids?
Coats for Kids – Cleveland, which was started in 1981 by local radio station employees when they realized that a large number of children were not attending school in the winter because they did not have warm coats. That November, Coats for Kids – Cleveland was founded and the radio station began soliciting donations of like-new, gently worn coats and cash donations to purchase new coats.
When is the campaign and how long will collection bins be out?
Our campaign typically runs from late October into mid-January.
I/my business or organization would like to support Coats for Kids by collecting coats or conducting a fundraiser of some kind. How can I arrange that?
Our 2022 annual campaign has ended. Please check back in the fall of 2023 for information on how you can help.
What is your donation policy?
We have a donations policy for your review.
Acceptable Donations – What Does Coats for Kids Accept?
Coats for Kids accepts donations of new or gently used winter coats. Donations should be in good condition without stains, tears, missing buttons or broken zippers. Coats for Kids happily accepts the following:
- Winter coats in all sizes
- Infant one-piece footed coats
- We accept coats in all sizes, but are in most need of men’s and women’s coats in XL Plus sizes (3XL, 4XL, 5XL)
To find a list of items we cannot accept, please review our donation guide.
How does Coats for Kids work? What happens to the coat I donated?
Contributed coats are sorted by size and gender by Coats for Kids staff and volunteers. Long-term Coats for Kids business partners then wash or dry-clean the coats for free. Cleaned, sorted, donated coats are then reallocated back into Northeast Ohio via a network of social service agencies and churches benefiting children whose families are suffering financial hardship.
Coats for Kids uses proceeds from its fundraisers, with community financial contributions and grants, to buy brand new coats. New coats are distributed in five northeast Ohio counties (Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain and Medina) by working closely with different public school districts. Public school students in grades pre-K through 8 whose family incomes are below the poverty level are chosen to receive coats by classroom teachers, school counselors and administrative personnel.
How do I volunteer?
For special events and at different times during our campaign, we need volunteer help. If you or a group you represent are interested in volunteering at our warehouse or in some other way, please send an email to volunteer@coatsforkidscleveland.org.
How do I request coats for my organization?
Our 2022 annual campaign has ended. We will begin taking requests for coats in the fall of 2023.
To request coats, please email the following information to requestcoats@coatsforkidscleveland.org:
- Your name and telephone number
- Total number of coats needed
- Size needed by gender
- If you are requesting coats for children of school age please include the name(s) of the school(s) the children attend
Coat Measurement and Fit Guide
Where can I find information about the financial accountability of Coats for Kids?
Coats for Kids believes in full transparency when it comes to our financial accountability. Please visit the Financials section on our website for more information.