Cash for Coats kicks off

For the 11th year, the City School District of Albany is partnering with the City of Albany to raise Cash for Coats funds.

Superintendent Kaweeda G. Adams joined Mayor Kathy Sheehan and the campaign’s additional sponsors, The Palace Theatre and Lodge’s Department Store, at The Palace Theatre on Oct. 3 to kick off the appeal.

“The correlation between attendance and the ability of children to get to school safely and warmly is clear. It’s important for our students to be in school and they can’t get there during the difficult winter months without appropriate outerwear,” said Adams.

In 2017, Cash for Coats raised $14,000 which enabled organizers to purchase 6,000 winter clothing items for students in the City School District of Albany. The goal is to surpass that amount in 2018 and donations will benefit students at Arbor Hill Elementary School, Philip J. Schuyler Achievement Academy, Sheridan Preparatory Academy and Thomas O’Brien Academy of Science and Technology.

“The kindness of the Capital Region will shine through,” explained Sheehan. “The students will feel the care everyone is providing.”

This year Cash for Coats drives will take place at special events held at The Palace Theatre. Ticketholders to Alice Cooper (Oct. 4), Dwight Yoakum (Oct. 7), Modest Mouse (Oct. 14), Darci Lynne & Friends (Nov. 3) and Amy Schumer (Nov. 8) can make a cash donation of any size during the performances. 

Monetary donations can also be made online at https://www.gofundme.com/q8d97c-cash-for-coats. You can also make a check payable to Cash for Coats and mail it to:

Cash for Coats

Albany City Hall Room 402

Albany, NY 12207

Donate in person by visiting the following drop off locations:

• Albany City Hall (24 Eagle Street)
• Lodge’s Department Store (75 North Pearl Street)
• Central Avenue Business Improvement District (176 Central Avenue)
• Albany County Convention and Visitors Bureau (25 Quackenbush Square)
• Downtown Albany Business Improvement District (21 Lodge Street)
• Albany Parking Authority (25 Orange Street)    

“We are so grateful to all our community partners for everything they do to help children in the City of Albany become the success stories we know they can be,” added Adams.

Lodge’s offers a significant discount on any items purchased for “Cash for Coats,” maximizing the impact of each cash donation. The Albany Police Athletic League, Albany Parking Authority, Albany County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Central Avenue BID and Downtown Albany BID are also sponsors of “Cash for Coats.” 

Donations will be accepted through Nov. 8 and the outerwear will be distributed to students in mid-November.  

The mission of the City School District of Albanyis to work in partnership with our diverse community to engage every learner in a robust educational program designed to provide the knowledge and skills necessary for success. The district serves about 9,500 students in 18 elementary, middle and high schools. In addition to neighborhood schools, the district includes several magnet schools and programs, as well as other innovative academic opportunities for students, including four themed academies at Albany High School.