Burlington coat drive begins today

Staff report

The annual Burlington Coat Factory coat drive kicks off today.

Now through Jan. 17, the store will be accepting gently used coats at all locations to donate to those in need.

Coats donated to Burlington Coat Factory locations at 529 Boardman-Canfield Road, Boardman, and 5555 Youngstown- Warren Road, Niles, will be distributed through the Rescue Mission of Mahoning Valley.

“There a lot of people who will call and say it’s cold weather and they need coats for their kids and themselves,” said Lynn Wyant, development coordinator at the mission.

Wyant said the shelter will pick up coats from the store locations every other week to hand out.

Anyone in need of a coat can get one Tuesday or Thursday each week from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at the mission’s warehouse facility at 2246 Glenwood Ave. Wyant said those with last names A-L should show up Tuesdays and those with last names M-Z on Thursdays. Coats are free with a valid ID.

More than 220,000 coats were collected nationwide through last year’s drive. This year’s goal is to collect 250,000. Wyant said she expects about 1,000 coats to be collected in the Valley.

Representatives at Burlington Coat Factory said anyone who donates a coat to the drive will receive a coupon for 10 percent off their next purchase at the store.

“It’s a nice incentive to clean out your closet,” Wyant said.