Washington County groups hold coat drive

The Washington Public Library, Washington County YMCA and Iowa Farm Bureau are teaming up for their annual coat drive this month.

With collections running until Oct. 23, organizer Jolisa Weidner, who runs the library’s family services, said running the Coats for Kids drive locally ensured benefits close to home.

“It’s a great campaign; we’ve been doing it for a few years now,” she said. “We just are doing it to keep things local and taking care of the people in Washington who are in need.”

Weidner said the drive, which is accepting donations for new and gently used coats until Oct. 23 and distributing them at the library Nov. 1-6, would also accept donations for other winter wear, like hats and gloves.

The drive has run every year for over a decade. As it grew, it became unmanageable for organizers to wash all the used winter gear in their own homes.

That’s when the YMCA got involved, according to Washington Y Marketing Director Angie Goodwin: the organization washes all used donations to ensure that they’re ready for use the day they’re picked up.

“From the Y’s standpoint, it’s one of our programs that we really get excited about,” she said. “There is such a need in our community to make sure that our kids are staying warm this season, and it’s always nice to see their smiles when they get to come in and pick out a coat.”

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com