Donations needed for local coat drive

By Lynn Monty, Free Press staff writer • Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Gadue’s Dry Cleaning put out its annual plea for coats a few weeks ago. For two decades they have asked the community to participate in its Coats for Kids program by dropping off gently used winter coats to be cleaned and distributed to local families who are in need.

“We call it Coats for Kids to stick with tradition, but it has always been for anyone, infant to adult, who might need a warm coat for the winter,” program coordinator Monika Busse said.

And it’s not just coats anymore. Ski pants, boots, hats, mittens and gloves are accepted, too. Donations can be made at any Gadue’s Dry Cleaning or Mountain Air Cleaners location, as well as Kountry Kart Deli in Burlington.

Owner Mark Gadue said in a letter that when the coat drive concept was originally considered the question he asked himself was, “What’s the downside of this?”

He hasn’t found one yet, Busse joked.

“Everyone who participates wins,” he wrote. “We have received and distributed thousands of coats. When you find the right coat for a specific person, it heals your own heart. There is a real and genuine joy that only comes from giving.”

“Sometimes it takes an entire village to keep everyone safe, warm, healthy and vibrant,” Gadue continued. “We are just a small player in that village with an eye alert to help someone else who may need just a little extra assistance to keep their lives going on a good path.”

Busse said the demand is high this year and donations have been down. Last year Gadues distributed about 2,400 coats to agencies like the Howard Center, the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf and COTS.

“This year we have actually had schools calling us,” she said. “Guidance counselors and teachers have seen an increased need, and right now we have only taken in about 140 coats. This is not much compared to what we are used to dealing with every year and we’re really concerned.”