Winter Coat Drive Aims to Aid 60,000 Needy NJ Residents

A statewide non-profit is hoping to collect more than 60,000 coats for New Jersey residents in need this winter.
 
Jersey Cares, which works with local charities and schools to identify and address their needs with the help of trained local volunteers, is accepting new and gently used coats at four county collection sites through Feb. 7, as part of its 18th annual coat drive. 

Donated coats are delivered by collection site representatives to the nearest container site where they are then sorted and bagged for pick-up by volunteers.

This year, Jersey Cares is partnering with the 2014 NY/NJ Super Bowl Host Committee, Wal-Mart and New York Cares to create what the organization believes will be the largest ever coat drive in tri-state area history.

For those who would like to participate, there is one drop-off location in Hoboken, and four across Hudson County:

• Elysian Cafe, 1001 Washington Street, Hoboken.  Coats accepted Monday through Friday, noon – 10 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.  For more information, call (201) 798-5898.

• Storage Post, 203 Broadway, Jersey City.  Coats accepted Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.  For more information, call (404) 382-5409.

• Union City High School, 2500 Kennedy Boulevard, Union City.  Coats accepted Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.  For more information, call (201) 390-7594.

• Lenox Outlet, 60 Enterprise Avenue North, Secaucus.  Coats accepted Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. For more information, call (201) 319-1980. Coats will only be accepted until Dec. 31, 2013 at this location.