NEWS RELEASE
For immediate release:

Coats for Community drive provides warmth to community this winter
United Way KFL&A’s third annual coat drive runs Oct 24-Nov 6

Kingston, ON (October 18^th, 2022) – As temperatures drop and winter approaches, many community members rely on donated coats to help them keep warm. United Way KFL&A is encouraging the community to help once again during the third annual coat drive.

As you begin to change over closets for the winter, workplaces, please donate clean, new or gently used winter outerwear. The only requirement is that coats must be washable (no leather or heavy wool).

To make drop offs easy, bins are available to drop off donations at the United Way office, 417 Bagot Street, City Hall, 216 Ontario Street, or branches of the Kingston Frontenac Public Library or Lennox & Addington Library.

As donations are received, volunteers will sort and distribute coats to agencies throughout KFL&A

Financial donations are also accepted and help United Way purchase coats for people who need specialty sizes. You can make a donation at www.unitedwaykfla.ca/donate/ – please indicate the donation is for the Coat Drive in the notes box – or call 613-542-2674 to donate.

“Last year over 1,100 items were donated during the coat drive and they went immediately to helping our fellow residents in need. Thank you to all those who generously donated through our previous drives, our amazing volunteers and partners who make this possible,” said Bhavana Varma, President and CEO, United Way KFL&A.” I am confident that our caring and compassionate community will step up once again.”

“Winter coats can be costly. If you are living on a fixed income or in poverty, then it is nearly impossible to buy a new coat,” said Leigh Martins, with Kingston Interval House, one of the agencies that receives donated coats. “Every year we have a lot of the people we serve reach out to us because they don’t have a warm coat to wear. The United Way coat drive allows this wonderful community to donate their gently used coats and our clients to stay warm in winter.” 

Items can be dropped off in collection bins from October 24^th – November 6^th at the following locations:

Kingston

• United Way KFL&A Office, 417 Bagot Street, Mon-Fri 8:30am to 4:30pm
• Calvin Park Branch Library, 88 Wright Crescent, Mon-Thu 9: 00am to 8:00pm; Fri-Sat 9:00am to 5:00pm
• Central Branch Library, 130 Johnson Street, Mon-Thu 9:00am to 8:00pm; Fri-Sat 9:00am to 5:00pm; Sun 1:00 to 5:00pm
• Isabel Turner Library, 935 Gardiners Road, Mon-Thu 9:00am to 8:00pm; Fri-Sat 9:00am to 5:00pm; Sun 1:00 to 5:00pm
• City Hall, 216 Ontario Street, Mon-Fri 8:30am to 4:30pm

Frontenac

• Sydenham Branch Library, 4412 Wheatley Street, Mon 10:00am to 6:00pm; Tue& Thu 1:00pm to 8:00pm; Fri 10:00am to 5:00pm; Sat 10:00am to 2:00pm
• Sharbot Lake Branch Library, 1037 Robert Street, Tue & Thu, 1:00pm to 5:00pm; 6:00pm to 8:00pm; Fri 2:00pm to 5:00pm; Sat 10:00am to 2:00pm

Lennox & Addington

• Napanee Branch Library, 25 River Road, Mon – Thu 10:00am to 8:00pm; Fri – Sat 10:00am to 5:00pm
• Amherstview Branch Library, 322 Amherst Drive, Mon – Thu, 10:00am to 8:00pm; Fri – Sat  10:00am to 5:00pm

For more information about this year’s Winter Clothing Drive, click here.

About United Way of KFL&A
United Way of Kingston Frontenac Lennox & Addington works closely with the community to ensure that people have the opportunity to reach their full potential and live with hope, dignity and a sense of belonging. This vision is realized by building on deep-rooted local community knowledge and relationships to empower people to make an impact.

The United Way raises funds for programs that support immediate needs while also addressing root causes of issues that impact people locally. Led by volunteers, driven by a small professional staff team, the United Way of KFL&A provides opportunities for people to get involved and support people in need, and issues they care about.

Stay up to date by following our social media channels – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn or visit www.unitedwaykfla.ca

For information please call 613-542-2674, email uway@unitedwaykfla.ca 

Media Contact:
Mandy Pasch, Director, Marketing and Communications
United Way KFL&A
613-876-3088, marketing@unitedwaykfla.ca