26th Annual Coats for Cold Kicks Off in Highland, White Lake

Oakland County Sheriff Michael J. Bouchard is asking the community to go into their closets and donate new or clean, gently-used coats as part of the 26th annual “Coats for the Cold” Coat Drive. The dates for this year’s coat drive are Nov. 5 through Nov. 30.

Drop off collections in White Lake and Highland include:

• The Oakland County Sheriff's Office Highland Substation at 165 N. John St. Highland
• Pet Supplies Plus, 8020 Cooley Lake Rd. White Lake
• Pet Supplies Plus, 6845 Highland Rd. White Lake

All collection boxes or PODS will be marked with signage. The “Coats for the Cold” coat drive was created by Sheriff Bouchard and has grown over the past 26 years.

An exciting addition to the coat drive this year is the partnership with the Oakland Pet Adoption Center: For each coat donated (up to five coats), individual donors may take $10 off (up to $50 off) the cost of adopting a dog or a cat from the Oakland Pet Adoption Center.

Each coat drop-off site is stocked with the coupons so coat donors interested in adopting a pet should ask the drop-off site for a coupon when they make their coat(s) donation.

Pet Supplies Plus in White Lake is providing pet goody bags for each pet adoption that occurs as a result of the drive. Also, Pet Supplies Plus will honor the pet adoption coupons at the Kitty City inside the store on M-59.

“Coats for the Cold” is a good way to help someone less fortunate stay warm this winter,” Bouchard said. “With the needs of the community so great, we are asking folks to give generously this year. We want to fill up every one of these PODS and boxes with coats and get them to the folks that need them. Also, if we can help find families for the many dogs and cats that are looking for homes, so much the better.”

This will be the eighth year in a row PODS has generously offered to be a partner. PODS is providing their portable storage units at nine of the drop-off sites around Oakland County for coat collection. Additionally, 1-800-MINI-STORAGE is partnering again this year by providing the boxes for coat drop-off around the county, and has locations in Oak Park and Troy where individuals wishing to donate a coat can bring their donation. Ten local Real Estate One offices are serving as drop-off sites also. We are grateful to all of our partners for their support!

Donors simply need to look for the POD or the “Coats for the Cold” drop-off box at any of 58 locations throughout Oakland County, and drop off their new or clean, gently-used coats inside the POD or drop-off box.

The new or clean, used coats collected during the coat drive will be given to several different charitable organizations who will then distribute the coats to those most in need at no cost.

(Source: Oakland County Sheriff's Office)