Coats for Kids kicks off collection

The Putnam County Youth Development Commission recently announced the beginning of its 2006 Coats for Kids campaign.

PCYDC Director Pam Turner said the mission of the organization is to advocate for Putnam County children and what better way to help with the most basic needs of food, shelter, and clothing.

The program has collected donated coats at various business and community locations and all county elementary and middle schools. Co-sponsor Howard Harmless Laundry cleans each coat at no charge.

The Kappa Delta Phi Sorority also supported the project and decorated the boxes and plastic containers. Shuee and Sons donated the boxes and Headley Hardware donated the containers.

The PCYDC encourages all Putnam County citizens to check closets for kids' coats in good condition and bring them to a drop box at one of the following locations:

-- Putnam County elementary and middle schools.

-- Putnam County Hospital.

-- Wal-Mart Super Center.

-- Putnam County Public Library.

-- Kroger.

-- Ivy Tech Community College/Area 30 Career Center.

-- Lear Corporation.

-- The DePauw University Union Building.

The coats will be distributed free of charge at the Putnam County Senior Center Clothes Closet on the courthouse square beginning Nov. 5 and ending Nov. 30.

Each year, the project is supported by a grant from the Department of Child Services Administration and Putnam County United Way.