The Kiwanis Club of Mount Vernon is excited to partner again with Gault’s Plaza Cleaners in its annual Coats for Kids drive. During the month of October, gently used coats will be collected at various locations throughout Knox County.
Through Coats for Kids, the club asks individuals to donate new or gently used coats, with a preference for children’s coats. The coats will be cleaned by Gault’s Plaza Cleaners and then taken to Interchurch Social Services and the Salvation Army to be distributed to children in need before winter arrives. Kiwanians will deliver boxes, donated by Mount Vernon Pak Mail, to 29 different partner locations in Knox County and accept donations from October 1 through 31.
“Coats for Kids is one of my favorite projects that Kiwanis helps facilitate,” said Lisa Lloyd, President of Kiwanis Club of Mount Vernon. “We collaborate with companies, schools, and organizations across the county to ensure that children can get a coat as temperatures turn colder. It truly takes the entire community to make this project successful.”
Interchurch and the Salvation Army are predicting that the need this year will be even greater than previous years. Salvation Army’s Captain Christine Moretz said “We have seen an increase in our food pantry and hot meal needs. It would not be surprising to see the increased need for coats as well this coming winter season.”
Carolyn Fergus, Executive Director of Interchurch Social Services agreed, adding “Our numbers have doubled since the beginning of this year. There are so many families needing help making ends meet. A warm coat at no cost will go a long way to meet their needs.”
Kiwanis is dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time. “Coats for Kids is just one of the ways that we can have a positive impact on the children of our community,” stated Lloyd.
Since 1987 there have been 19,226 coats donated, cleaned, and distributed through Coats for Kids. For more information, call Lisa Lloyd at 740-392-3270, ext. 2.
Drop-off Locations:
CENTERBURG
Centerburg Elementary: 207 South Preston Street
Centerburg Middle/High School: 3782 Columbus Road
Park National Bank: 35 West Main Street
DANVILLE
Danville Elementary/Middle School: 205 Rambo Street
Danville High School: 405 South Market Street
Park National Bank: 4 South Market Street
FREDERICKTOWN
Fredericktown Elementary/Middle/High School: 111 Stadium Drive
Park National Bank: 137 North Main Street
GAMBIER
Gambier Child Care Center (Head Start): 119 Meadow Lane
The Peoples Bank: 103 East Wiggin Street
Wiggin Street Elementary: 207 East Wiggin Street
HOWARD
East Knox Jr./Sr. High School: 23227 Coshocton Road
MOUNT VERNON
CES Credit Union: 1215 Yauger Road & 400 West Chestnut Street
Chamber of Commerce: 501 South Main Street
Gault’s Plaza Cleaners: Kroger Plaza, 855 Coshocton Road
Knox County Career Center: 306 Martinsburg Road
Knox County Head Start (Hew Hope Early Education): 11700 Upper Gilchrist Road
Knox County Service Center: 117 East High Street
Knox Technical Center: 308 Martinsburg Road
Mount Vernon City Schools
Columbia Elementary: 150 Columbus Road
Dan Emmett Elementary: 108 Mansfield Road
East Elementary: 714 East Vine Street
Mount Vernon High School: 300 Martinsburg Road
Mount Vernon Middle School: 298 Martinsburg Road
Pleasant Street Elementary: 305 East Pleasant Street
Twin Oak Elementary: 8888 Martinsburg Road
Park National Bank: 1 South Main & 810 Coshocton Avenue
Salvation Army of Mount Vernon: 206 East Ohio Avenue
The Peoples Bank: 11423 Upper Gilchrist Road
United Way of Knox County: 305 East High Street
