By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
After announcing last week, they were beginning to collect coats for an annual distribution event, officials with the Salvation Army in St. Joseph say there is a desperate need as the donation deadline approaches.
Major Ronald Key says the Army has received enough donations to get through the winter, but he fears it still may not be enough
"So, we do have coats for kids, adults, we've got coats, but I just don't think it's going to be enough," Key tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "So basically, what we need is people, if they want to get rid of a coat maybe they can't wear anymore or they don't wear anymore, we just ask for it gently used and if it has a zipper it zips up if it has buttons it will button up."
Last year, the Salvation Army distributed 520 coats to those in need.
Key says he hopes the Army can collect around 600 coats to distribute to those in need.
"We've been in that 500 range for a while but then we run really short at the end," Key explains. "So, if we could get 600 that would probably help tie us over, or even more than 600, but I think 600 would be a good starting point."
Key says one of the biggest needs when it comes to donated coats is bigger sizes
"We don't get a lot of like 5x's, and last year we had people that needed 5x and we just didn't have them," Key says. "We're usually pretty good to about 2x or 3x, but the 4 and 5x we don't have a lot of."
Key says the Salvation Army is asking for coats to be donated by Friday but will accept donations throughout the winter. The distribution begins on October 21st.
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