20,000 Coats and Counting: Kiwanis Launches 2026 Coats for Kids Drive

Mount Vernon, OH — For nearly four decades, Knox County residents have come together to make sure local children have something warm to wear when winter arrives. This October, the Kiwanis Club of Mount Vernon and Gault’s Plaza Cleaners & Laundromat are continuing that tradition with the annual Coats for Kids drive.

From October 1 through October 31, community members are invited to donate new or gently used coats, with children’s sizes especially needed. Collection boxes will be placed at over 30 partner locations throughout Knox County, making it easy for residents, businesses, schools, and organizations to participate.

The process is simple: you donate a coat, Gault’s Plaza Cleaners generously cleans it, and local organizations make sure it reaches a child who needs it. Coats are distributed through Interchurch Social Services and the Salvation Army before the coldest months of the year arrive. Collection boxes are once again being provided by Mount Vernon Pak Mail.

“Every year, I’m reminded that something as simple as a coat can bring an entire community together,” said Alyssa Gomez-Lawrence, President of the Kiwanis Club of Mount Vernon. “There are businesses collecting coats, schools getting their students involved, organizations hosting boxes, and individuals simply grabbing an extra coat from their closet to donate. It’s a great example of what can happen when everyone does a small part.”

Last year, the community reached a major milestone when Coats for Kids surpassed 20,000 coats collected, cleaned, and distributed since the program began in 1987. That milestone represents nearly 40 years of generosity from individuals, businesses, schools, organizations, and community partners throughout Knox County.
While the milestone provides something to celebrate, the need behind the drive remains very real. Rising costs and increased demand for assistance mean that local families continue to face difficult choices during the winter months. A warm coat can be one less expense for a family already working to make ends meet.

How to help:

• Donate a new or gently used coat, especially children’s sizes.
• Look for a Coats for Kids collection box at one of the participating locations throughout Knox County.
• Spread the word and help continue a community tradition that has provided more than 20,000 coats to local children over the past four decades.