By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The annual Coats for Kids drive has a big milestone this year with Ineeda Cleaners in Hutchinson.
"We are so excited to be a part of such a long tradition in Hutchinson," said Rachel Nelson with Ineeda Cleaners. "This year is 35 years of Coats for Kids. Chris and I, my husband, we're so happy that we can continue the tradition of Coats for Kids, started by Ineeda founder, John Neal."
The drive is going on through the end of the month.
"What you do is, clean out your closets, look in your kids closets for unnecessary items, coats, blankets, gloves, hats," Nelson said. "You can drop them off any time. We have a buggy in our lobby at 13th and Main at our Ineeda location. You can just stop by, put them in our buggy or give them to one of our friendly staff. We will take them to our production facility and clean them, wash them, dry clean them, whatever they need to look their best and then we will get them ready for the Salvation Army for their distribution day.
With COVID, the number of items has gone up and down, but with the early cold snap this year, the hope is that will remind people of the need while they still have time to give.
"We had a crazy year about four years ago, we did about 3200 items," Nelson said. "Last year, we were around 1500. That's typically a good year for us. Anything over 1400 to 1500 items we feel really gives a lot of choices for people when they go to the Salvation Army."
Ineeda is open to take coats at 13th and Main in Hutchinson Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. or Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon.
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