New Hampshire United Ways, Cleary Cleaners Launch Statewide Coat Drive

CONCORD, NH — New Hampshire residents will be able to donate new and like-new coats starting Sept. 15 as three United Way partners with Cleary Cleaners on a statewide drive ahead of winter.

The collection runs through Oct. 23 and is organized by Granite United Way, United Way of Greater Nashua, and Monadnock United Way.

The coat drive aims to help families, seniors, and children who may not have adequate warm clothing during the winter months. The three organizations said they will distribute coats collected during the campaign across New Hampshire to people most in need by the Thanksgiving season.

Cleary Cleaners will clean all of the like-new coats, according to a release.

“Each year there is a need across our community for warm coats as the cold season (approaches),” Kerry Folkins, the community engagement director for Granite United Way, said. “Our community comes together around this effort, and we are grateful for their support and for the generosity of Cleary Cleaners, who donate the cleaning of like-new coats.”

Donation sites include all Eastern Bank New Hampshire branches in Stratham, North Hampton, Dover, Portsmouth, Salem, Manchester, Nashua, Concord and Bedford, along with the bank's Amesbury, Massachusetts, branch.

Other drop-off locations include the New Hampshire Fisher Cats in Manchester, Bangor Savings Bank in Amherst, Bar Harbor Bank and Trust in Nashua, Southern NH Health, Nashua Senior Activity Center, United Way of Greater Nashua, Nashua Community College, St. Joseph Hospital, NBT Bank in Nashua, all Claremont Savings Bank locations, River Valley Community College and Valley Regional Hospital.

A full list of drop-off sites is available at graniteuw.org/nh-coat-drive.

Anyone who wants to contribute a new coat online can use Granite United Way's Amazon wish list, and the organization also accepts monetary donations through its website.

Nonprofit partners in Merrimack County and the Southern Region can pick up coats from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 30, and Monday, Nov. 2 at the NH Fisher Cats, 1 Line Dr.in Manchester.

A coat and resource fair for nonprofits in the Greater Seacoast Region is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 7 at Community Campus, 100 Campus Drive in Portsmouth.

A community coat distribution open to the public is scheduled from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Oct. 22 at Claremont Savings Bank, 150 Broad St. in Claremont.