2020 NEWS CENTER Maine's Coats and Toys for Kids Wish List has ended

MAINE, USA —

THANK YOU! 

Update: Thank you Maine for helping to keep children warm and happy this winter season.  With the help of NEWS CENTER Maine viewers, 9,157 purchases were made from our Coats and Toys for Kids Wish List and $34,889 was collected.  

Your purchases will be shipped to nine Maine Salvation Armies with a little help from the NEWS CENTER Maine elves. From there, the new coats and toys will be distributed statewide.

Thank you Maine!

RELATED: "No shame in asking for help" -- annual 'Coats and Toys for Kids' campaign helps Maine families

2020 Coats and Toys for Kids

It’s NEWS CENTER Maine’s 38th annual Coats and Toys for Kids campaign.

This year, due to the pandemic, there is a twist…

In 1983, the Salvation Army created the campaign to collect coats for Maine families who couldn't afford a warm winter coat. NEWS CENTER Maine and the Salvation Army joined together in 1990, establishing a partnership for the Coats for Kids campaign.

In 2004, toys were added by NEWS CENTER Maine to the campaign, becoming Coats & Toys for Kids.

An estimated 870,825 coats and 79,310 toys have been collected over the years.

RELATED: Help us keep Maine kids warm with 2019 Coats and Toys for Kids

RELATED: Coats for Kids | The need for warmth has come early this year

The 2020 campaign:

This year, there will be no drop-offs at local grocery stores. To keep everyone safe during this pandemic, we are asking viewers to purchase from our NEWS CENTER Maine Wish List.

You can also mail in a check to The Salvation Army  to help buy new coats and toys at:

The Salvation Army

P.O. Box 3647

Portland, ME 04104

Please remember to put in the Memo: Coats & toys for Kids

RELATED: Salvation Army to kick off Red Kettle drive early in an effort to 'Rescue Christmas'

 Dates, times, locations:

Coats will be accepted Monday, November 9 through Friday, December 18.

Toys will be accepted from Monday, November 9 through Friday, December 4 — leaving time to distribute to those in need for the holiday season.

Even though NEWS CENTER Maine will not be holding our annual Coats and Toys for Kids Day at local Hannaford, Shaw’s, and Pratt Abbot this year, we will have several reminders for our viewers during our newscast and social media sites. Watch and look for the fun reminders.

While this campaign isn’t how it normally looks, we are grateful for all the viewers who have donated and will donate to Coats and Toys for Kids. 

The pandemic may have us slowing down and changing our schedules, but in Maine, the cold weather and holidays will still come. We hope you can purchase a new coat and toy and help your fellow Mainer stay warm and happy this winter season.