NEW YORK—New York Cares, a citywide volunteer organization, launched its 22nd annual coat drive on Wednesday. During the month-long effort, approximately 70,000 coats are expected to be collected and provided to New York City’s less fortunate.
All through the month of December, New Yorkers can donate used, but freshly laundered, coats to New Yorkers who are in need. New York Cares and its partners and sponsors have established hundreds of drop-off points in all five boroughs. Coats can be dropped off at all police precincts, as well as at the Grand Central Terminal, the Port Authority bus terminal, the Penn Station, and other designated locations around the city.
Donated coats will be transferred to a warehouse donated to New York Cares to be sorted by volunteers. Afterward, the coats will be distributed to more than 300 organizations that will give the coats directly to people in need. Among the organizations that have requested coats are a soup kitchen and a public school in Brooklyn.
New York Cares Executive Director Gary Bagly and executives from sponsoring organizations handed out coats at the Bowery Mission to launch the coat drive. Also in attendance were NBA Cares ambassadors Dikembe Mutombo, formerly of the New York Knicks and currently playing for the Houston Rockets, and retired Milwaukee Bucks player Bob Lanier.
Lainer, who towers at 6 feet 11 inches, spoke of the special needs of big people and reiterated the need to donate large-sized coats to the Coat Drive.
“Big People have needs too,” he said.
More than 1.4 million coats have been distributed through the initiative since its implementation in 1989.
“We are asking all New Yorkers to go to their closet and get a coat,” said Bagly, adding that the economic crisis has caused an increase in the number of people needing assistance.
Police commissioner Raymond Kelly was scheduled to attend the kick-off event to represent NYPD, one of the founding sponsors of the coat drive, but could not be present.
He stated in a press release: “Since 1989, the New York City Police Department has helped to provide hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers with winter coats through New York Cares, contributing 34,000 coats last year alone. We look forward to this tradition of giving every year.”
Health Plus, a not-for-profit health care plan that currently serves more than 300,000 adults and children, is a major sponsor of the coat drive. Ada Rodriquez, chief marketing director of Health Plus in attendance at the launch event, said that they are very proud to participate in this initiative.
All through the month of December, New Yorkers can donate used, but freshly laundered, coats to New Yorkers who are in need. New York Cares and its partners and sponsors have established hundreds of drop-off points in all five boroughs. Coats can be dropped off at all police precincts, as well as at the Grand Central Terminal, the Port Authority bus terminal, the Penn Station, and other designated locations around the city.
Donated coats will be transferred to a warehouse donated to New York Cares to be sorted by volunteers. Afterward, the coats will be distributed to more than 300 organizations that will give the coats directly to people in need. Among the organizations that have requested coats are a soup kitchen and a public school in Brooklyn.
New York Cares Executive Director Gary Bagly and executives from sponsoring organizations handed out coats at the Bowery Mission to launch the coat drive. Also in attendance were NBA Cares ambassadors Dikembe Mutombo, formerly of the New York Knicks and currently playing for the Houston Rockets, and retired Milwaukee Bucks player Bob Lanier.
Lainer, who towers at 6 feet 11 inches, spoke of the special needs of big people and reiterated the need to donate large-sized coats to the Coat Drive.
“Big People have needs too,” he said.
More than 1.4 million coats have been distributed through the initiative since its implementation in 1989.
“We are asking all New Yorkers to go to their closet and get a coat,” said Bagly, adding that the economic crisis has caused an increase in the number of people needing assistance.
Police commissioner Raymond Kelly was scheduled to attend the kick-off event to represent NYPD, one of the founding sponsors of the coat drive, but could not be present.
He stated in a press release: “Since 1989, the New York City Police Department has helped to provide hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers with winter coats through New York Cares, contributing 34,000 coats last year alone. We look forward to this tradition of giving every year.”
Health Plus, a not-for-profit health care plan that currently serves more than 300,000 adults and children, is a major sponsor of the coat drive. Ada Rodriquez, chief marketing director of Health Plus in attendance at the launch event, said that they are very proud to participate in this initiative.
