By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Donations are being accepted through this Saturday for the 17th annual Coat Giveaway in Hays next Saturday, Oct. 25.

Gently used coats of all types may be dropped off at either McDonald’s restaurant, any Hays school, and at Master Cleaners and Top Notch Cleaners on Eighth Street in downtown Hays.

“We just want it so that anyone who needs a coat, can have a coat,” said Amy Smith, co-owner of Top Notch Cleaners.

Top Notch and Master Cleaners will roll out numerous racks filled with hundreds of donated coats, gloves and hats onto their driveways starting at 9 a.m. Oct. 25. The giveaway continues until 2 p.m.

“The kids coats always go first, so get here early if that’s what you’re looking for,” Smith advised. “Kids grow so fast and families with several children may not be able to afford a brand new coat for each of them every year.”

Both dry cleaners are making minor repairs as needed to the donated coats and then will clean them before the big giveaway.

“There are no income guidelines, no paperwork, nobody to talk to — just come get what you need. It’s to help not only those who are low-income, but also middle-class — anybody who needs a little help here and there,” Smith said.

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Over the years, the coat drive grown big enough to reach people outside of Hays.

The donated coats have also been given to Rooks County where “they don’t have anything like First Call for Help like we do in Hays. Judge (Doug) Bigge comes and gets three or four trash bags full of coats and takes them to the courthouse in Stockton where they’re given to people who need them,” Smith said, “and we have a service group in Hill City that collects coat donations there and then brings them to Hays for our giveaway.”

Any coats that are left over are given to other organizations, including the Hays Community Assistance Center and the Russell Food Pantry.