Coats for Kids and Families is a United Way initiative that began in 1992 due to overwhelming requests from families and individuals with limited resources in need of winter jackets. Many families continue to deal with sharply rising living expenses and simply don't have the means to purchase the clothing needed to stay warm during Alberta’s harsh winters. The most vulnerable among us are children. Without adequate winter clothing, a child will have a difficult time reaching their full potential.

In 2011, 10,794 coats were collected, cleaned, sorted and distributed. Download the complete 2011 Coats for Kids & Families Summary and the full list of 2011 Community Depots.

United Way is asking the community at large to donate new and gently worn coats and outerwear by dropping them off at one of our Drop-Off locations. Page the Cleaner has partnered with United Way to provide a professional dry-cleaning to all gently worn donated items. Once cleaned, the coats are brought to United Way’s InKind Centre where groups of volunteers sort and package the coats to be delivered to social agencies who distribute the items to the people who need them. For more information please contact Jenn Dermott.

The 2011 Coats for Kids campaign ran from Oct 25, 2011 to Jan 31, 2012.

Community support is crucial for a successful program. We encourage groups of co-workers, community organizations, church groups and friends to organize collection drives to collect as many coats and outerwear items as possible. When your Coats for Kids and Families collection drive is complete, donations can be dropped off at any Page the Cleaner.

Monetary donations are used to purchase coats to meet specific requests. Cheques made out to United Way of the Alberta Capital Region indicating Coats for Kids and Families in the memo line can be mailed or dropped off at United Way located at 15132 Stony Plain Road. Edmonton,  AB. T5P 3Y3.