News On 6, Tulsa Organizations Team Up To Bring 'Coats For Kids'

Oklahoma's own are helping thousands of kids stay warm this season. Our annual "Trav's Coats for Kids" drive is going strong.

Each year, News on 6 teams up with Catholic Charities and Yale Cleaners to give coats to children in need. And this year, some new faces needing help.

Trav's Coats for Kids just started and Catholic Charities has already handed out almost 5,000 coats.

"Just the way the economy is right now, lots of people have come in that, one, have never been to Catholic Charities before. Just the hard times, looking for clothing and looking for coats," said Becky Wisdom, Clothing Center manager.

Anyone needing a coat can go to the Catholic Charities warehouse in North Tulsa. The coats are cleaned first by Yale Cleaners before going on the rack.

"It seems like as fast as we can get them in from Yale Cleaners, we can pretty much push them out within three to four days," Wisdom said.

The donated coats come from the community and big retailers, like Walmart, which recently gave about 100 new coats to the drive.

Catholic Charities expects to give away 15,000 coats this year to people from every walk of life.

"I've even gotten calls from teachers from schools in the area who say, "You know, we have some kids who don't have coats. Can I come in and pick some up for them?" Wisdom said.

Everyone can get a winter coat and a light-weight jacket for free, and hopefully walk out with much more than that.

"We are bringing to them a sense of, we care about you, we love you," Wisdom said.

You can donate to "Trav's Coats for Kids" through December 31. Drop off children's and adult coats at any Yale Cleaners location.

If you need a coat, call Catholic Charities at (918)-949-HOPE or go to their Tulsa center at 2450 North Harvard.