Coat drive donations due Friday!

You have until this Friday to help our kids stay warm this winter with a donation to the 2024 Cash for Coats drive, which is now underway!

Cash for Coats – coordinated by the office of Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan – is an annual effort to raise money to buy new winter coats and accessories for City School District of Albany students in need.

The mayor, Superintendent Joseph Hochreiter and several community sponsors launched this year's drive Oct. 28 at a news conference at the Palace Theatre.

You can donate in several ways:

• Make an online donation
• Text 518COATS to 41444
• Drop off a donation at City Hall, or mail a check payable to Cash for Coats/Lodge's Department Store to Albany City Hall, Mezz RM 252, 24 Eagle Street, Albany, NY 12207.

Donations are due by Friday, Nov. 1. All donations are welcome, and every dollar raised goes directly to purchase of coats and accessories. 

This year marks the 16th Cash for Coats drive. Since it began, the program has purchased more than 15,000 new coats and tens of thousands of new hats, gloves and mittens for Albany children.

Besides the city, the Palace and the school district, community partners supporting the drive include Lodge's Department Store, United Way, Burke Company and Dr. Edward Wladis of Ophthalmic Plastic Surgery.