Charlotte Coat Drive Aims To Collect 30,000 Winter Coats for Families in Need
WSOC-TV and The Charlotte Observer have kicked off their twenty-first annual coat drive alongside Crisis Assistance Ministry. They’re shooting for 30,000 coats this winter to help local families. Between November and mid-January, donated coats go directly to people who need them most. Through the Ministry’s Free Store and its network, every coat finds someone to keep warm within two days. The program has given out 175,000 coats to Charlotte residents since it began.
Dave Parker, owner of E.R. Plumbing Co. said, “Once again, the community has done amazing things and donated a record 24,041 coats to Steve’s Coats for Kids, which is 2,400 more coats than last year’s record collection. Many of those coats were cleaned and on the rack at Crisis Assistance Ministry within twenty-four hours of being donated. For a child in need, these aren’t just coats. A new coat will help keep a kid’s head held high and gives an aspect of dignity to their life.”
The drive keeps growing each year. Starting with 20,385 coats in 2016, donations grew to 21,636 the following year. In 2018, they collected 24,041. Then 2020 hit a new record with 27,275 coats, beating the previous year by 1,500. Just last week, on Dec. 18, 2024, volunteers handed out coats to ourBRIDGE for KIDS, a group helping immigrant families. The drive also teams up with Roof Above to help homeless individuals stay warm.
Want to pitch in? You can drop off coats at the Free Store on Spratt Street in Charlotte. They’re open Tuesday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The store also takes school uniforms and other basics throughout the year.
For 50 years, they’ve helped Mecklenburg County residents with rent, utilities, and budget guidance. If you need help, call 704-371-3001.
