Coats for Kids Registration Starts September 27
-- Coats for Kids Online Registration Opens Monday, September 27 --
The Salvation Army of Central Indiana is hosting Coats for Kids again this year at the Indiana State Fairgrounds on October 16. This year marks a return to in-person shopping experiences for families after a drive-thru model was used during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
In order to maintain social distancing and eliminate lines, parents will need to register their children in advance and choose an appointment time. Registration opens online September 27 and will remain open until all time slots are filled. Parents are encouraged to register their children early before space runs out.
It is anticipated that around 2,500 children will be served this fall through the annual Coats for Kids program. Timed tickets will allow for a steady flow of families through the Blue Ribbon Pavilion from 8:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. There is space provided for 65 families to shop for coats each half hour. During that time, volunteers will help children choose the perfect winter coat, hat, and gloves.
Coats for Kids serves any school-aged children in Central Indiana in need of a warm winter gear. In order to register, parents and guardians will need to visit salarmy.org/C4K21 and provide information about the number, size, and gender of coats their children will be shopping for on distribution day.
Once submitted, parents will receive a confirmation via email, which will need to receive their time ticket when they arrive at the fairgrounds on October 16. Children will need to be present in order to receive a coat on distribution day.
For 35 years the Coats for Kids program has helped families in need keep their children warm and safe through the long winter months. The event officially kicked off on August 30 with the start of coat collections at seventeen central Indiana Classic Cleaners locations and outreach by media partner WTHR-13. Locations can be found at ClassicCleaners.net. Bins will remain out through October 8.
Volunteers are still needed for Coats for Kids set-up week (October 11-15) and distribution day (October 16). This is a great opportunity for corporate groups, churches, and service clubs to give back before the busy holiday season. Visit SalvationArmyIndiana.org/Volunteer to get involved.
If you are unable to drop off a coat at Classic Cleaners, The Salvation Army's "Online Coat Shop" makes it easy to donate cash to support the program. You can donate online to Coats for Kids this year by
Visiting SalvationArmyIndiana.org/coats-for-kids and clicking the red "Donate to Coats for Kids" button
Texting the word HOOSIER to 24365 to receive the link for the Online Coat Shop
Scanning the QR code on register display cards at each Classic Cleaners location