Coat-A-Kid in need of many more coats | Community Spirit

Blizzard the Polar Bear brought a lot of excitement to this year’s Coat-A-Kid kick-off at Highland Elementary last month. The Evansville IceMen mascot handed out coats and gave hugs at the event before students enjoyed the traditional throwing of their coats into the air.

For the sixteenth year, Don’s Claytons owner Steve Schmitt headed up the Coat-A-Kid kick-off, which this year will exceed 150,000 coats that have been cleaned and distributed to area kids since 1986.

Schmitt says coat donations so far this year have been slow. Because Coat-A-Kid has run out of smaller coats too soon in past few years, he is urging those who can to drop off infant’s and childrens’ coats at any Don’s Claytons location as soon as possible.

“This year, some families in our area are struggling more than ever. We don’t want a single child to go through the winter without a warm coat,” Schmitt says. “It’s heartbreaking when we run out of coats before all the kids’ needs are met. I’m sending out a special appeal this year because the need is so great.”

Don’s Claytons is accepting new and gently used coats at all of its locations in Evansville and Newburgh now through December 31.