Organization Kicks Off Annual Coat Drive on Monday, October 15, Aims to Provide 3,000 Coats This Year to Those in the Region in Need

CINCINNATI – October 11, 2018 – The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is kicking off its 17th annual coat drive on Monday, Oct. 15, at noon at the Gold Star Chili in Covington, Ky., 504 W. Fourth St. All members of the media are invited to attend.

Greater Cincinnati residents are being asked to donate new and gently used winter coats at convenient drop-off locations across the Tri-State. Last year, St. Vincent de Paul distributed 2,600 coats to its neighbors in need, and this year aims to provide 3,000 neighbors with coats. There is a particular need for children’s coats, as well as adult coats sizes XL and larger. The drive runs through Saturday, Jan. 5.

Coats are being collected at more than 100 locations throughout Greater Cincinnati, including:
• All local Gold Star Chili restaurants.
• All Kemba Credit Union branches.
• All Your Cleaners and Valetone Cleaners locations.
• Numerous fire departments throughout Greater Cincinnati.
• For a complete list of participating drop off locations, go to SVDPcincinnati.org.

“No parent wants to face the day that they cannot keep their growing children warm, but that is a reality for many families every winter in Cincinnati,” says Mike Dunn, Executive Director of St. Vincent de Paul – Cincinnati. “For some families, a clean warm coat is a luxury that can be taken for granted. We are grateful to our partners and the many local businesses that are collecting winter coats to help us meet this critical need.”

Coat drive partners include Gold Star Chili, Kemba Credit Union, participating fire stations, Lemasters Consulting, Your Cleaners, Valetone Cleaners, City Dash, Starr Printing, and 1st Call Disaster Services. WLWT and Warm 98 are media partners for the drive.

The first distribution of coats by St. Vincent de Paul – Cincinnati occurs:

• Saturday, November 10, from 9:00 a.m. to Noon at Elder High School, 3900 Vincent Ave., Cincinnati.

St. Vincent de Paul – Cincinnati and St. Vincent de Paul – Northern Kentucky are also holding additional distributions on Saturday, Dec. 1, and Saturday, Jan. 5.

Along with donating coats or making a financial contribution, the community can get involved by volunteering. St. Vincent de Paul is looking for volunteers who can help sort, hang or distribute the coats. To learn more about donating coats or helping sort and distribute coats, please call 513-421-HOPE or visit SVDPcincinnati.org.

For information on how to receive a coat, call 513-421-0602 or visit SVDPcincinnati.org. For information on how to receive a coat in Northern Kentucky, call 859-341-3219 or visit SVDPnky.org.