Donate coats to help keep someone warm this winter

October 20, 2019 at 4:30 a.m. | Updated October 20, 2019 at 4:30 a.m.

by Joe Gamm

Capt. Sarah Windell sorts through donated coats recently dropped off at The Salvation Army Corps Community Center office at 927 Jefferson St. The donation barrel shown will be just inside the lobby doors for convenient drop off. Used coats are acceptable; they just ask they be clean and in good condition. They are most in need of coats for teens and young adults but certainly need them for all age groups and sizes.
Capt. Sarah Windell sorts through donated coats recently dropped off at The Salvation Army Corps Community Center office at 927 Jefferson St. The donation barrel shown will be just inside the lobby doors for convenient drop off. Used coats are acceptable; they just ask they be clean and in good condition. They are most in need of coats for teens and young adults but certainly need them for all age groups and sizes.

The weather is finally changing.

And as it does, more and more people will need winter coats.

The Salvation Army of Jefferson City's annual campaign to provide coats for those in need is underway.

Although donors have already provided dozens of coats for infants and toddlers, the organization is very short on coats that will fit youths, teenagers and adults.

It's typical every year that donors are generous with adult coats and sometimes overlook the need for coats that fit young people. However, The Salvation Army needs all sizes of coats this year, with the exception of those for babies and toddlers.

"Kids grow out of coats quickly," Salvation Army Capt. Justin Windell said. "And kids wear them down a lot easier. What we need is a variety of sizes for children and teenagers."

Adults (male and female) will need coats, too.

"Coat Barrels" are now dispersed in the community. The Salvation Army is asking people donate new or gently used coats in the barrels through Oct. 27. The Salvation Army will identify those who need coats and distribute them when people sign up for the Christmas Shop on Nov. 5-6.

Locations of barrels to drop the coats in are Williams Keepers, 3220 W. Edgewood Drive; First Presbyterian Church, 324 Madison St.; First United Methodist Church, 201 Monroe St.; Grace Episcopal Church, 217 Adams St.; Mayor Carrie Tergin's office, 320 E. McCarty St.; and The Salvation Army of Jefferson City, 927 Jefferson St.

While you're shopping for a coat, consider getting a teenager-appropriate toy for The Salvation Army's Christmas Shop.

"I can almost guarantee we will also need more teen toys," Windell said. "They're the hardest to shop for."

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