<!--Mark Scheer--><table width="234" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" background="http://static.cnhi.zope.net/flashpromo/niagaragazette/images/byline_234x60.jpg" height="60"><tr><td><div align="center"><font size="3" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">By Mark Scheer</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></font><font size="1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="mailto:mark.scheer@niagara-gazette.com">mark.scheer@niagara-gazette.com</a></font></div></td></tr></table>
An annual drive that helps keep needy people warm in the winter is heating up again this week.
Capitol Cleaners, the long-time sponsor of the local Coats for Kids program, will be accepting donations of winter jackets this Saturday.
Used coats in “useable” condition will be accepted from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the rear entrance to Capitol Cleaners at 1124 Portage Road.
“If you've got an old coat in good condition that somebody could use we would appreciate it,” said Russell Petrozzi, vice president of Capitol Cleaners.
The campaign is celebrating 44 years of providing coats to children and adults in need. The Falls dry cleaning company started collecting coats for needy kids in the 1960s when Russell’s father, Joe, decided to do something to help the less fortunate.
“My dad saw some needy kids walking over to one of the schools and he wanted to give back to the community,” Russell said. “It just took off from there.”
Last year, Capitol Cleaners collected about 5,000 coats that were distributed to needy individuals though community organizations, schools and churches in the area. Since its early days in Niagara Falls, the program has expanded into a statewide and national campaign that results in thousands of coats being given away each year.
“It’s just been a great program for the community,” Russell said.
Capitol Cleaners has a second coat drop-off scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 5. For additional information about the program, call 282-7971.
