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Coats for Kids Image

Coats for Kids

Warm Coats. Warm Smiles. Warm Hearts.

COATS FOR KIDS 2022 REGISTRATION IS NOW FULL.

Coats for Kids is planned for October 15th at the Indiana State Fairgrounds from 8:00am-2:00pm in the Elements Financial Blue Ribbon Pavilion at 1202 E. 38th Street in Indianapolis. 

Children from across Central Indiana can come on this very special day to pick out a warm winter coat, scarf, hat, and gloves - and we need YOUR help to make sure that the thousands of children who show up will leave with warm winter coats. Right now, you have several ways to make a donation to Coats for Kids.  For every $25 donated, The Salvation Army is able to purchase a new coat in the most needed size. 

Each registered family will be emailed a timed entry ticket, which means no more standing in long lines waiting to receive a coat. Instead, parents and guardians will be able to arrive at the Indiana State Fairgrounds Blue Ribbon Pavilion shortly before their appointment time. Families can wait in the comfort of their parked cars and will be able to enter the building 30 minutes prior to their appointment time. This ensures we can provide more efficient service to you and your family! We will have accommodations in place for families who do not have a vehicle.

Once inside, families can visit information tables in the front reception area and enjoy some kids activities. Shortly before their appointment time, they will be called to get in line to go out onto the shopping floor with our volunteer shopping guides. Children will be able to try on coats and find the perfect fit for the winter season.

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Have more questions about Coats For Kids? Look at the provided answers below to find what you're looking for.

Coats for Kids is a HUGE event, so we need hundreds of volunteers during set-up week, October 10-14, and on Distribution Day, October 15th! We greatly appreciate your time -- check out our volunteer opportunities for this event!

CALLING ALL INTERPRETERS! Are you fluent in Spanish, Burmese, Farsi, or ASL? Some of our Coats for Kids families include non-English speakers or are members of the Deaf community. If you are bilingual and would like to use your special communication skills to help families at Coats for Kids, please reach out to Kathy Della Costa at kathy.dellacosta@usc.salvationarmy.org

  • Hold a collection at your local business, church, or school.

  • Follow The Salvation Army on Twitter and Facebook to learn of additional opportunities to donate coats and cash in support of Coats for Kids.

  • Local sport organizations, businesses and universities can get involved by supplying entertainment features for participating families on October 15 by bringing engaging games, activities and fun personalities (such as mascots, cheerleaders and musicians) to the Indiana State Fairgrounds.

  • Please contact Matthew Nagy, Special Events and Communications Manager, for more information on how you or your group can get involved and participate in this year's Coats for Kids events by calling 317-222-7873 or by emailing matthew.nagy@usc.salvationarmy.org.

  • Brownsburg Library, located at 450 S Jefferson St, Brownsburg, IN 46112.

  • Classic Cleaners will collect donated coats at all of their Marion, Hamilton, and Boone County locations. Find your nearest location at www.ClassicCleaners.com.

  • Red Shield Center, located at 325 Market Plaza, Greenwood, IN 46142.

  • The Salvation Army Indiana Divisional Headquarters, located at 6060 Castleway West Drive, Indianapolis, IN, 46250.

Last year, thousands of Central Indiana children came to the Indiana State Fairgrounds with their parents to pick out the perfect coat, hat, and gloves to keep them warm through an unpredictable Indiana winter. For the kids, this is a fun day when they can hunt for a coat they can wear to school with pride and confidence. From the tiniest of newborns to high school seniors, these children all need quality winter gear to help them stay healthy and warm. Since the most-needed sizes vary from year to year, it can take an inventory of over 4,000 coats to ensure that every child will find a coat to take home.

While a winter coat may seem like a small gift, the Coats for Kids program makes a big impact on local families who are struggling to put food on the table and keep the heat on through the winter. By providing these coats for their children, parents are able to use their limited funds to pay for necessities like school supplies, food, gas, utility bills, and rent. Thanks to Coats for Kids, they don’t have to choose between equipping their kids for the cold weather and paying the light bill.

We want to thank our Coats for Kids partners for making this event possible!