For 30 years, Pilgrim Dry Cleaners has been on a mission to ensure every local child is equipped with a warm coat for Minnesota’s brutal winters. With a goal of collecting 10,000 donated winter coats, the 2015 Coats for Kids Drive is in full swing and goes through Friday, Oct. 9.
The program got its start in 1986 after a woman who couldn’t afford to buy her child a winter coat stopped by Pilgrim and asked company founder Don Rosen if any had been left behind. After giving the woman a coat, Don realized he had found a way to make a difference in the community. Three decades and 384,000 winter coats later, thousands of Minnesotan kids have been warmed by Don’s efforts.
This year’s Coats for Kids Drive has a special significance, as Don passed away on Sept. 17 at the age of 94. Honor Don’s legacy of giving and help our kids stay warm by dropping off your gently-used children’s and adult-sized coats at any of the 25 Pilgrim Dry Cleaners locations throughout the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro. Pilgrim customers can also give their coats to their home and office delivery driver. Those who donate their coats will receive a dry cleaning coupon. Many local schools also take part in the Coats for Kids Drive, with Subway throwing a party for the school that collects the most coats.
As cold as Minnesota winters are, every child should have the opportunity to frolic in the snow and wait at the bus stop with a warm coat. So donate today and let’s get this goal of 10,000 coats all zipped up!
