MAINE, USA — Join NEWS CENTER Maine as we help families stay warm and spread the holiday cheer with this year's 42nd annual Coats & Toys for Kids campaign.
Donate online using the NEWS CENTER Maine Wish List, where purchases can be made, and coats and toys will go directly to The Salvation Army and be distributed statewide.
Our Coats and Toys for Kids campaign will look a little bit different this year.
This year, year 42, will feature a one-day collection on Dec. 5 at five different locations throughout Maine.
The stores will be collecting new or gently used coats, new unwrapped toys and money donations ALL DAY LONG.
Stop by and meet NCM talent and help Mainers in need here:
- Hannaford in Sanford from 10AM - 1PM
- Shaw's in Auburn from 3:30PM - 630PM
- Allagash Brewing in Portland from 11AM - 1PM
- Renys in Bangor from 3:30PM - 6:30PM
- Renys in Topsham from 3:30PM - 6:30PM
Click here to donate today.
NEWS CENTER Maine and Salvation Army are so grateful for 41 strong years of coats and toys being dropped off in stores. Here's to many more!
Thank you to Maine Savings for being a partner of NCM’s coats and toys for kids for the second year in a row. Thank you to Pratt Abbott who will be cleaning all the gently used coats; Shaw's, Renys, Allagash Brewing and Hannaford for collecting coats and toys and to Salvation Army for distributing throughout Maine.
We hope to see you there and thank YOU for your generosity in keeping Maine kids warm this winter.
Coats for Kids was originally designed 42 years ago by The Salvation Army. NEWS CENTER Maine became a partner seven years later helping to collect coats for Maine families who cannot afford a warm winter coat. In November of each year, donation boxes are placed in the Hannaford Supermarkets and Shaw’s stores across the state. In 2004, NEWS CENTER Maine also saw the need for toys during the holiday season and expanded the program to Coats and Toys for Kids. All the coats are cleaned and stored by Pratt-Abbott Cleaners and the Salvation Army distributes the coats and toys. PepsiCo has assisted this great effort by donating and delivering the boxes to Hannaford Supermarkets and Shaw’s stores.
By estimation, NEWS CENTER Maine has collected more than 869,000 coats - all of which have helped to keep Maine children warm. Since 2004, they have collected 85,910 toys to distribute to those in need during the holiday season.