Y&E in Evansville holds coat drive as cold weather approaches

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WFIE) - The cold weather is here, but not everyone has what they need to get through it.

Volunteers zipped up coats and sorted them by size on tables at Young & Established in Evansville, all to prepare for their coat drive.

“It’s something that we do every year but the need has really grown,” said Young & Established executive director Courtney Johnson. “To see a kid not have a coat walking home from school, to me is an issue. So when I see things like that I try to figure out what I can do to help.”

Johnson’s solution is opening his doors to those in need. He recruited some younger help too.

“We like giving back to the community,” said a group of middle schoolers helping out.

Even some of the youngest in the community, appreciated it.

“The (coat) match my pants!” said one little girl there.

Not everyone liked the idea of matching with the rest of their outfit though.

“Dad this one matches this one. I want that one,” another girl said to her dad.

Good thing they had all different colors and sizes, and plenty of help to make sure all 400 coats were given away.

“This is probably the biggest (coat drive), there’s a huge need,” said Johnson.

Johnson says they’ll be here again year after year to continue to fight that need.

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