EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Maybe it’s because people think times are better now. But whatever the reason, a lot fewer coats are coming in for the Coat-A-Kid program and Steve Schmitt wants us to know the need is still there.

“This year especially we want to remind the community – and parents going through their children’s winter things – to please bring in gently used coats,” Schmitt says. “Especially infant and children sizes. We always run out of those before running out of kids who need them.”

Every October Schmitt kicks off the Coat-A-Kid season at an Evansville elementary school where the kids get to try on coats and pick one that’s right for them. This year’s kick-off on Thursday, Oct. 22, will be at Cedar Hall Elementary, a Title 1 school located at 2100 N. Fulton Ave.

Starting in November, thousands more coats will be distributed to area children in need through the Salvation Army, Evansville Christian Life Center and Hope Central on North 2nd Street in Boonville.

Schmitt’s company, Don’s Dry Cleaning & Laundry Fine DryCleaning, cleans and distributes all the donated coats before they’re sent out for area kids. The company has cleaned some 160,000 coats since founding Coat-A-Kid in 1996.

Coats may be donated at any of nine Don’s or Don’s drycleaner locations in Evansville and Newburgh through December 31.

For more information about the Coat-A-Kid program, contact Don’s Dry Cleaning & Laundry Fine DryCleaning at 424-9979 or talk with a staff member at any Don’s Dry Cleaning & Laundry location. Click here for a listing of locations.