Coats of Caring — Winter Warmth for Better Health

Health goes beyond the care we receive at hospitals. It’s the food we put on our plates, the lifestyle we live — and sometimes it’s as simple as what we wear when it’s cold outside.

For many families across Central Indiana, warm coats and other winter gear are out of reach. Back in 2001, Community Hospital Anderson launched Keith Trent’s Coats of Caring, a charitable program that puts free winter coats in the hands of families who need it most. With thousands of coats donated and distributed since the start of the program, Coats of Caring has made winter health less of a burden for residents of Madison County.

In light of the pandemic, we knew that the 20th anniversary of Coats of Caring would be the most important one yet. Since outdoor activities have been the safest way to remain active, local families needed warm winter coats more than ever. On top of that, many families are unable to purchase coats because they’ve taken a hard hit financially this year.

To keep the coat distribution event safe and socially distant, our team decided to turn it into a drive-through. Cars lined up outside and were given a number and an order form. Masked volunteers ran the orders inside for fulfillment, and delivered them straight to vehicles as they reached the front of the line.

Without ever leaving their vehicles, families received free winter coats to keep them safe and warm during the pandemic and beyond. At the end of the day, we distributed nearly 1,000 coats, hats and gloves to our neighbors in Madison County.

We couldn’t have an event like Coats of Caring without support from our community in the form of monetary and coat donations. We want to extend a special thank you to Dr. James and Betsy Callahan, as well as our local partners Bestway Cleaners for being an integral part of the program’s success.

Helping our neighbors improve their health this winter is easier than you might think. If you have a new or gently used coat you’d like to donate, you can drop it off at any Bestway Cleaners location in the Anderson area. Bestway accepts donated coats throughout the year and cleans them free of charge for redistribution during Coats of Caring.

If you would like to make a monetary donation to support causes in your community, you can do so through the Community Hospital Anderson Foundation. When we collaborate hand in hand — or rather, hand in glove — we can make winter health more attainable for our neighbors in need.