34th Annual Trav's Coats for Kids Coat Drive runs through Dec. 31

At Yale Cleaners, our favorite time of year is the annual Trav’s Coats for Kids coat drive, and we’re kicking off the 34th annual drive this month.

This year, the 34th Annual Trav’s Coats for Kids coat drive began Nov. 1 and will run through Dec. 31. Gently used coats are accepted at all 11 Yale Cleaners locations.

Every year, Trav’s Coats for Kids coat drive receives between 10,000-12,000 coats from across the Tulsa metro, making it one of the largest programs of its kind in the entire nation. Yale Cleaners thoroughly cleans the coats for free and then we work with Catholic Charities to distribute them to families in need.

Each year, donations of all coat sizes from infant through adult are needed.

“We receive coats of every size, but we always need more infant sizes and plus size adult coats than we receive,” said John Rothrock, Yale Cleaners president and CEO. “Please consider cleaning out your closets and giving to those in need this year. The need is greater now than ever.”

Coat distribution in 2020

This year, coats will be distributed a bit differently, due to Covid restrictions. Catholic Charities will distribute the coats from November 17th through January 14th at a Group M Investments-donated shopping center located at 2616 E. 11th Street in Tulsa Oklahoma. This facility will provide enough space to allow for social distancing. Volunteers will give coats to every member of the family – not just the kids. And, everyone receives two different coats – a lightweight coat and a warm winter coat.

“We need volunteers to come out and help distribute the coats now through January,” Rothrock said. “If you are available and would like to give back by giving out coats, please let us know.” You can sign up to volunteer by following this link.

How to receive a coat

If you need a coat, call Catholic Charities at 918-949-HOPE or visit the Trav’s Coats for Kids Distribution Center. Please bring a form of ID for each family member who needs a coat. The coat room is open each week on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 am – 2:00 pm; Saturdays 9:00 am – Noon. We also hope to be open at least one night a month if we have enough volunteers.

Host your own Trav’s Coats for Kids coat drive

Do you have a group that would like to team up with us to make Trav’s Coats for Kids as big as possible? Consider hosting your own coat drive at your work, school or church. Email the details and dates of your coat drive to coatsforkids@griffin.news, for a possible opportunity to have your coat drive publicized on the news. And click here to learn more about hosting your own drive and getting marketing materials to help make your drive a success.

“We have had so many businesses join us in our efforts and hold their own coat drive,” Rothrock said. “One year, American Airlines collected 1,500 coats for the drive. We are so excited when other parts of the community get involved and help us keep Tulsa families warm in the winter.”

To volunteer to hand out coats, host your own coat drive or find out more about the 34th annual Trav’s Coats for Kids coat drive, call 918-949-HOPE.