Carbondale Police Department, SIUC Athletics Department collecting children’s coats to donate

CARBONDALE, Ill. (KBSI) – The Carbondale Police Department and the Athletics Department of Southern Illinois University Carbondale are partnering this holiday season to collect new coats for boys and girls in Carbondale.

The donated coats (for ages 1-10) will benefit the children served by the Carbondale Police Department Community Christmas Store.

New coats will be collected at all home men’s and women’s basketball games starting Thursday, November 16.

The Carbondale Police Department Community Christmas Store is an annual event conducted by the Carbondale Police Department’s Victims’ Advocate with assistance from the Victim’s Advocates of Jackson County.

The event provides gifts and toys at reduced costs to families of 150 children from at-risk or under-privileged families residing in Carbondale, according to the Carbondale Police Department.

The goal for this year is to also provide each of the children with a warm coat entering the winter months.

Coats for children will also be accepted for donation at the Carbondale Police Department located at 501 S. Washington Street. Coats will also be accepted at the Carbondale Civic Center lobby located at 200 South Illinois Avenue. Donations can also be made during tree lighting on November 30 from 5-7 p.m. at the Town Square Pavilion.

The deadline for donations is December 8.