Annual 'Coats For Kids' Campaign Underway In Green Country

Dan Bewley & Travis Meyer, News On 6

TULSA, Oklahoma -- News On 6 is proud to begin our 24th year of Coats For Kids. The late Jim Giles started the program to help Green Country children stay warm during the winter.

This year, News On 6 Chief Meteorologist Travis Meyer is taking up the cause in honor of Jim's memory.

11/10/2010 Related Story: Walmart Teams Up With News On 6 For 'Coats For Kids'

Thousands of coats have been donated, each one headed to a family in need. You can bring your new coat or gently used coat to any Yale Cleaners location, where it will be sorted and cleaned.

After being cleaned, the coats travel across Tulsa to Catholic Charities on north Harvard  Catholic Charities will give away close to 15,000 coats during the Coats For Kids campaign this year. Each one goes to a Catholic Charities client in need.

"I'm amazed at the number of people in Tulsa or just in the area that need something to keep themselves war," said Becky Wisdom, with Catholic Charities.

Maria Matamoros picked out a coat for her 4-year-old son. She told News On 6 through an interpreter that Coats For Kids is a big help for her family and without it she's not sure where she would get a coat for her kids.

"Too much, very important," Matamoros said. "My husband doesn't work right now, very important."

Catholic Charities will distribute coats through mid January at their facility at 2450 North Harvard in Tulsa. For days they are open and hours of operation, call 918-949-HOPE. You'll need to bring an ID for every person who plans on getting a coat.

If you'd like to donate a coat, take it to any Yale Cleaners now through December 31, 2010. They'll clean it, and then pass it along to Catholic Charities.