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Annual coat drive is underway
2018 coat drive file
A rack of coats is shown from the 2018 Annual Coat Re-Distribution, coordinated by Trinity United Methodist Church. The 2020 call for coats is underway, and gently used, professionally cleaned coats will be given away on October 10. Coats can be dropped off at Master Cleaners or Trinity United Methodist Church, Great Bend.

With Autumn quickly approaching, members of Trinity United Methodist Church are requesting donations for their Ninth Annual Coat Redistribution. People can take unneeded coats to one of the drop-off locations this month. They will be professionally cleaned and then given away on Saturday, Oct. 5.

The best place to drop off items is Master Cleaners, 4600 10th St. Pl., said Karla Essmiller, one of the coat drive organizers.

“Master Cleaners does a great job cleaning the coats each year and we really appreciate their willingness to partner with us on this; we couldn’t do it without them,” she said. Items can also be dropped off at Trinity United Methodist Church, 5700 Broadway Ave., between 9 a.m. and noon, Monday through Thursday; at Central Kansas Christian Academy, 215 McKinley St.; or any of the Great Bend USD 428 schools. Just tell them the coats are for the coat drive.

As always, sponsors are asking for “gently used” coats.

“Our community members are very generous!” Essmiller said. “We always have some very nice coats. There is generally a small selection of Panther, K-State, KU, Chiefs or other popular items.”

The coat giveaway will take place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Oct. 5 at Trinity United Methodist Church. All are welcome — all ages, all size and all incomes — with no questions asked. However, there is no guarantee of what will be available. 

“We generally have around 500 items,” Essmiller said. “We get a lot of adult and teen coats and jackets. Most of the time we don’t get a lot of elementary and smaller coats, but we always have some. Those who need those should come early for the best selection. The same is true with 2X and larger items. Come early for the best selection.

“Our goal with this project is simply to spread God’s love among our community by getting unused coats out of closets and onto the backs of anyone who can use them,” Essmiller said. “Anyone and everyone are welcome to come shop our selection. Coats that are not given away are picked up by the Ellinwood organization Live Like Jesus Today, who take them to Wichita and hand them out to the homeless or donate them to shops that help the homeless."