Help us keep kids warm this winter
Media Contact: Julie Borgen, Twin Cities media relations director for The Salvation Army Northern Division, 612-201-6163
Roseville, Minn.- The Salvation Army’s 31st annual Coats for Kids collection is underway in the Twin Cities–and this year your donations are again being doubled, up to $30,000, thanks to Alerus Mortgage.
The Salvation Army offers the only public distribution of winter coats for children in the metro area, according to The United Way–and we need your help to make it a success.
“There are many families who aren’t part of a regular social services program, so this may be their only opportunity to get a free coat,” said Lt. Col. Lonneal Richardson, leader of The Salvation Army Northern Division. “We collect coats for two weeks, and then we distribute them on one day. We simply cannot do it without the public’s support.”
Last year alone, The Salvation Army provided coats to nearly 9,000 children in a single day. Over the three decades of the program, Coats for Kids has provided about 334,000 coats and winter accessories to families in the Twin Cities.
Your gift of $18 buys a new coat for a child in need. You can also donate clean, gently used coats, snow pants, mittens, hats and scarves at any of the following locations, now through Oct. 16:
- All metro-area Cub Foods
- All metro-area Kowalski’s Markets
- All Ideal Credit Unions
- Minnesota School of Cosmetology, Plymouth and Woodbury locations, $10 off single service with coat donation
- Trollhaugen Ski Place is offering a discounted lift ticket for each coat donated, opens Sept. 28
- All Minnesota Medifast locations
- CSL Plasma in New Hope
- Saturday, Oct. 8 with Second Saturdays at TPT
- Wright-Hennepin Cooperative Electric Association in Rockford
- Salvation Army Worship & Service Centers
Coats and winter accessories are available to parents with dependent children ages 0-17 on Thursday, Oct. 27 from 10 a.m.- 6 p.m., or until supplies run out.
Anyone who needs a coat for their child can find details GiveCoats.org, including which location to go to and what identification is required.
Distribution sites include:
- Brooklyn Park Salvation Army, 10011 Noble Parkway
- Coon Rapids Salvation Army, 10347 Ibis St. NW
- Central Minneapolis Salvation Army, 2727 Central Ave. NE
- North Minneapolis Salvation Army, 2024 Lyndale Ave. N.
- East Minneapolis Salvation Army, 1604 E. Lake St.
- East St. Paul Salvation Army, 1019 Payne Ave.
- West St. Paul Salvation Army, 401 w. 7th St.
- Maplewood Salvation Army, 2080 Woodlyn Ave.
- Dakota County, Easter Lutheran Church, 4545 Pilot Knob Rd., Eagan
- Washington County, CrossWinds Community Church, 9125 Newgate Ave. N., Stillwater
- Wright County, Buffalo Community Center, 206 Central Ave., Buffalo