15th Annual Coats For Kids collections under way

The Putnam County Youth Development Commission is requesting public support of its 15th annual Coats for Kids Campaign.

Boxes have been delivered to schools and businesses and PCYDC is in need of new or gently used coats of all sizes from infants all the way through teen years. There is also a need for hats, mittens and gloves to ensure local youths are warm during the wintry months ahead.

PCYDC cannot accept coats that need to be dry cleaned or are damaged.

Donations will be accepted at all Putnam County school corporations until Friday, Oct. 10 and Putnam County businesses until Friday, Oct. 17.

Besides the donation points at elementary, middle and high school in the county, other drop-off locations include Area 30 Career Center, Ivy Tech Community College, Walmart Supercenter, TCU, Kroger, Greencastle City Hall, Putnam County Public Library, Putnam County Hospital, Putnam County Courthouse, Putnam County Extension Office, IAC, Charlie's Beefcake Burgers, Scorpion and Endeavor Communications.

A competition remains in place among the schools of the county, but PCYDC Director Linda Merkel chose to change up the competition a little this year. Previously, the participant schools of the week six Putnam County football games had a friendly Coats for Kids competition, with Greencastle and North Putnam taking on Cloverdale and South Putnam

After North Putnam and Greencastle won for three straight years, it came to Merkel's attention that from a sheer enrollment standpoint, the two northern school corporations of the county had a significant advantage -- nearly 1,250 students across all grade levels.

"We tried to even the playing field because it's been pretty lopsided," Merkel said. "We tried to give everybody a chance this year."

Instead, individual school buildings will compete across three categories, best-decorated collection box, best promotion of Coats for Kids event and, of course, most coats collected.

All competition aside, the ultimate goal is to provide a warmer winter for needy children in Putnam County.

"Our goal is to collect over 800 coats, hats, and mittens and gloves for Putnam County children," Merkel said.

Distribution day is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 25 from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. at Harris Hall at the Putnam County Fairgrounds. No questions will be asked; however, organizers request that parents and guardians be prepared to share what school corporation they live in.

Remember, parents or guardian must accompany children to ensure a proper fit.

Collection for this year's campaign actually started last week, in the hopes of getting the distribution done before the really cold weather arrives. Merkel said they try to pretty much keep collection and distribution dates in line with the Bob Gregory Coats for Kids campaign in Indianapolis.

"It appears that we're going to be right on task with the weather because it looks like it's going to be getting cool this weekend," Merkel said.

Campaign organizers also expressed their gratitude to the organizations who make Coats for Kids possible, including Putnam County Extension Homemakers clubs, United Way of Putnam County, Kappa Delta Phi Sorority, Greencastle Kiwanis, Kroger, Ray's Trash Service, Walmart Supercenter and the Putnam County schools.

Anyone with questions may contact the PC Youth Development Commission office at 653-9342.