Regional Coat Drives Collect Winterwear for Families

Community groups and organizations are collecting winter clothing to help residents stay warm this season. In Joliet, Joshua Soldiers Ministries is collecting coats and other winterwear through Oct. 27 for low-income seniors at Joshua Arms, with distribution planned for Nov. 7. In Newmarket, Lions clubs are accepting gently used coats and winter items and distributing them to families and other residents each Saturday through Jan. 16; Iowa Knights of Columbus councils are providing more than 1,300 new coats to children statewide, including 48 in Fairfield. In Greater Philadelphia, Independence Blue Cross and the Flyers are collecting new or gently used children’s winter clothing through Nov. 17 at home games and other drop-off sites, while FOX Illinois and Green Family Stores are collecting new coats in Springfield during October and November.