About the Coat Drive

The goal of the 13th Annual Jersey Cares Coat Drive is to collect and distribute 35,000 “gently used” winter coats to at-risk men, women, children and infants.  Over the past ten years, Jersey Cares has collected, sorted and distributed thousands of winter coats to New Jersey residents in need through this program. Companies, churches, police stations, schools and other organizations collect coats throughout the drive. Coats are then delivered by a collection site representative to our Coat Drive Warehouse, which is located at the Community FoodBank of NJ in Hillside. Volunteers then sort the donated coats at the Community FoodBank of NJ and bag them for pick-up. Agency recipients schedule their pick-up and distribute the coats to those in need.

Photo Credit: Craig Cutler;

(c) New York Cares

Participation Opportunities                 

Donating Coats - Coats may be dropped off between October 13th and December 19th at all participating public collection sites.  Check out our public collection site listing for collection sites in your area. Keep in mind that, unless cleared with the specific location, these sites are not for bulk coat donations.  If you have more than ten coats to donate, please consider hosting your own collection site or delivering your coats to the Community FoodBank directly.

Collecting Coats - Establish a private or public collection site during the months of October and November or a shorter period of time (i.e., two months, two weeks, a few days, just one specific day or event).  Upon receipt of your collection site form, Jersey Cares will send you a Coat Drive Kit which includes posters, collection site instructions, sorting instructions (if you choose to pre-sort) and directions to our Coat Drive Warehouse, located at the Community FoodBank of NJ. Please note that all collection sites are required to deliver their coats directly to the Coat Drive Warehouse – we do not provide individual pick-ups due to the size of this program.

Sorting Coats - Volunteer sorting projects are held at the Community FoodBank of NJ in Hillside from November-January. Contact the Jersey Cares office to schedule your sorting date. You can also pre-sort coats before delivering them.

Sponsorship and Financial Contributions - The Coat Drive is an enormous undertaking and requires financial support in order to function. Sponsors receive multiple benefits. Please contact the Jersey Cares office if you’re interested in becoming a sponsor. Click here to donate now.

Receiving Coats (for 501 c3 nonprofit agencies only) - If you're a non-profit agency or school, you can request gently used, warm winter coats for your clientele or students.  Please contact the Jersey Cares office to apply to receive coats.

Helpful Links

- Become a Collection Site

- Receive Coats (nonprofit agencies only)

- Directions to the Coat Drive Warehouse (located at the Community FoodBank of NJ) 

Related Events

New York Knicks vs. New Jersey Nets

Join the New Jersey Nets at the IZOD Center on Wednesday, December 10 for Jersey Cares Night. Bring a coat and support Jersey Cares through discounted tickets. Learn More or Buy Tickets Now

- Ottawa Senators vs. New Jersey Devils (Game Coat Drive) - Sunday, January 4, 2008

The Coat Drive is a partnership between Jersey Cares and New York Cares. For collection sites in New York, please see www.nycares.org.