Coats 4 Kids 2020: Making a Difference for Children in Central Indiana
For over 30 years, our partners at WTHR and Classic Cleaners have come together with generous donors and volunteers throughout Indianapolis to ensure that children in need have coats, hats, and gloves to help keep them safe and warm through harsh Indiana winters.
In 2019, we were able to provide over 3,000 children with winter coats. Together with their parents, children came to the Indiana State Fairgrounds to pick out the perfect coat to keep them warm for the winter. They also were able to pick out their very own hat, scarf, and set of gloves in colors and styles that show their individual personality. Winter coats not only provide warmth, but also a sense of confidence. They can wear their winter attire to school with pride, not worrying about how they look or if they will have what they need during the coldest season of the year.
“Coats for Kids is an opportunity for us to extend out the blessing of a warm coat to a child in need. However, for us Coats for Kids is far more than that, it is a chance for us to wrap families in the hope of a better tomorrow, the hope of Jesus, and the hope of a community that cares. We believe attached to every coat a child receives is a commitment from the community and The Salvation Army to always support those in need within our community, without discrimination.” Says Captain Vinal Lee of the Fountain Square Corps Community Center.
The COVID-19 pandemic has not only affected people across the globe but also hundreds of thousands of Hoosiers across Indiana. In addition to a healthcare crisis, it has created job loss, income insecurity, housing insecurity, and increased food insecurity. The need for assistance of all types has always been great, but this year, it is greater.
If you’re able to help provide the gift of warmth to a Hoosier child in need this year, please consider donating a new or gently used coat to our Coats 4 Kids program. You can drop coats off at collection bins at any of Classic Cleaner’s Indianapolis locations, or, you can make a donation to our Online Coat Shop and provide a gift to purchase a new coat for a child.
We could not do what we do for the community without the help of volunteers. You can make a difference for fellow Hoosiers in need. If you’re looking to get involved with Coats 4 Kids, please visit our Volunteer Page to see a list of available opportunities.