Coats for Kids

One of the easiest ways you can give this holiday season might be by opening up your closet. Now through Dec. 3 you can donate a coat as part of News10’s Coats for Kids campaign, which is celebrating its 20th year. The coats don’t have to be new, and they don’t even have to be clean—Swansons Cleaners will take care of that. Coats can be dropped off at the News10 studios at 400 Broadway or at area Swansons Cleaners, Rogers Jewelry, Century 21 M&M and Associates, and The UPS Store. Oh, and even though it’s called “Coats for Kids,” any size coat will be accepted. I’ve donated to this program for several years now and during the years when I didn’t have a coat in my closet to donate, I simply made a stop at Ross or Marshalls. It’s amazing what $25 will get you. And you’re helping to keep a child warm. What better feeling could there be? The Coats for Kids campaign has handed out coats to more than 475,000 needy children and families throughout its 19-year run. The goal this year is to collect 25,000 coats to make it to the half million mark. If you would like to donate but can’t make it to one of the sites, monetary donations can be made at any Tri Counties Bank location or by mailing a check made out to “Coats for Kids” to The Salvation Army, P.O. Box 340699, Sacramento, CA  95834. Volunteers and interpreters are needed to help distribute coats at Cal Expo on Dec. 30. For more information, call (916) 321-3362.