Coats for Kids program collects 35,000 garments

BANGOR – Mainers donated more than 35,000 coats during the Coats for Kids 2001 campaign, breaking all previous records.

The third annual Coats for Kids Day was celebrated Dec. 1, 2001. News Center TV personalities appeared at Shaw’s supermarkets in North Windham, Auburn and Bangor, Shop ‘n Save stores in York and Ellsworth and a Hannaford supermarket in Portland. Coats for Kids Day reeled in 8,539 coats – a one-day record.

It takes many partners to make Coats for Kids happen. WCSH 6 and WLBZ 2 provide publicity and media support to the project. Shaw’s, Shop ‘n Save and Hannaford supermarkets serve as drop-off points across Maine and eastern New Hampshire. Pepsi-Cola provides materials and support. Pratt-Abbott and Gold Star Cleaners clean and freshen the coats. Increasingly, churches, civic groups, school groups and numerous area businesses rally to help this worthy project. In addition to nearly 100 supermarkets that serve as drop-off points for coats, more than 60 schools and community-minded organizations actively collected coats for donation in 2001.