It was sunny but still about 25 degrees in Hays at 9 o’clock Saturday morning as the 15th annual Coat Drive opened for business.

An estimated 1,200 coats of all colors and sizes were wheeled out to the driveways of Top Notch Cleaners and Master Cleaners in downtown Hays where an eager crowd waited.

“All the coats are donated by the public, we clean them, and then they’re given away to anybody who needs one,” according to Amy Smith at Top Notch.  “Within the first half-hour, probably half of the coats were already taken!”

The free coats are available until 2 this afternoon, or until they’re all gone.

“If there are any leftover, they’ll be donated to the Russell Food Pantry,” says Smith.  “We’ve already give three full sacks of coats to Judge Bigge in Rooks County, where they’ll be distributed to children and adults who need them.”