Koats For Kids is back for another year in Portage la Prairie.

Dawn FroeseBig Brothers Big Sisters of Portage la Prairie Executive Director Dawn Froese says they've been accepting coats for a while, and explains how the program works.

"We have been collecting coats like crazy and getting them washed, and we're very excited about that. Here at Big Brothers, we've had a good number of coats dropped off, and I know the other locations are having a good amount dropped off too. So thank you very much. We will collect until October 31st, then the collection is finished. Then every Thursday in November from 2 to 5:30 p.m. we'll be distributing coats out of the basement of Century 21 from the doors on the alley."

She explains what sort of things they're looking for.

"We're looking for winter jackets, ski pants, boots, toques, scarves, and mittens. The other things sometimes people like to give us are vests and sweaters, and that's really nice, but we really don't have the space for those types of things. So thank you anyway, but we really are just looking for the outerwear, and it needs to be in good condition because we don't have a way to repair anything."

Froese adds it's an amazing program that many local organizations are behind. "CMHA collects the jackets from different drop-off points and take them to MDC. They get sorted and MDC washes them for us, then they're picked up and brought to the location. Family Resource Centre -- with the help of the Social Justice Committee from MacGregor -- will help set up the storefront and put everything out into sizes and that kind of thing. So it's really a community involvement."

Drop off locations include Big Brother Big Sisters, Portage United Way, CMHA, Portage Resource Centre, Portage Fire Hall and the PCU Centre.