MOUNT VERNON — As the weather cools and the need for warmth grows, the Kiwanis Club of Mount Vernon is once again teaming up with Gault’s Plaza Cleaners for the annual Coats for Kids drive this October.
This community initiative asks residents to donate new or gently used coats—especially children’s sizes—to keep Knox County children warm throughout the winter months.
Individuals can drop off coats in October at convenient locations throughout Knox County. Once collected, Gault’s Plaza Cleaners cleans the coats. Interchurch Social Services and The Salvation Army distribute the coats to children in need, just in time to face the colder weather.
“This is more than just a coat drive—it’s a community effort to keep our kids safe and warm,” said Lisa Lloyd, past president of Kiwanis Club of Mount Vernon. “Each donation represents the caring spirit of Knox County, and together we’re ensuring that no child faces the winter without a warm coat.”
Mount Vernon Pak Mail generously donated boxes for collecting coats, which will be placed at over 30 partner locations throughout Knox County. The drive officially kicks off on Oct. 1 and runs through Oct. 31.
This year, the Kiwanis Club has set an exciting goal: to surpass 20,000 total coats collected since the program began in 1987.
To date, the Coats for Kids drive has distributed 19,566 coats. With the community’s help, Kiwanians aim to push that total over 20,000 before winter arrives.
Kiwanis Club of Mount Vernon remains dedicated to its mission of improving the lives of children and families. For more information on how you can donate, call Lloyd at 740-392-3270, ext. 2.
Drop-off locations
Centerburg
•Centerburg Elementary: 207 South Preston Street
•Centerburg Middle/High School: 3782 Columbus Road
•Park National Bank: 35 West Main Street
Danville
•Danville Elementary/Middle School: 205 Rambo Street
•Danville High School: 10 Rambo Street
•Park National Bank: 4 South Market Street
Fredericktown
•Fredericktown Elementary/Middle/High School: 111 Stadium Drive
•Park National Bank: 137 North Main Street
Gambier
•Gambier Child Care Center (Head Start): 119 Meadow Lane
•The Peoples Bank: 103 East Wiggin Street
•Wiggin Street Elementary: 207 East Wiggin Street
Howard
•East Knox Jr./Sr. High School: 23227 Coshocton Road
Mount Vernon
•CES Credit Union: 1215 Yauger Road & 400 West Chestnut Street
•Gault’s Plaza Cleaners: Kroger Plaza, 855 Coshocton Road
•Knox County Career Center: 306 Martinsburg Road
•Knox County Chamber of Commerce: 501 South Main Street
•Knox County Head Start (Hew Hope Early Education): 11700 Upper Gilchrist Road
•Knox County Service Center: 117 East High Street
•Knox Public Health: 11660 Upper Gilchrist Rd
•Knox Technical Center: 308 Martinsburg Road
•Columbia Elementary: 150 Columbus Road
•Dan Emmett Elementary: 108 Mansfield Road
•East Elementary: 714 East Vine Street
•Mount Vernon High School: 300 Martinsburg Road
•Mount Vernon Middle School: 298 Martinsburg Road
•Pleasant Street Elementary: 305 East Pleasant Street
•Twin Oak Elementary: 8888 Martinsburg Road
•Ohio Eastern Start Home: 1451 Gambier Road
•Park National Bank: 1 South Main & 810 Coshocton Avenue
•Salvation Army of Mount Vernon: 206 East Ohio Avenue
•SPI Spot: 400 South Main Street
•The Peoples Bank: 11423 Upper Gilchrist Road
•United Way of Knox County: 305 East High Street
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