Coat Off Your Back 2024 is in full force!

GATHERING WARM COATS FOR THOSE IN NEED

Your help is needed to collect 2,000 Coats

For over a decade, the Rotary of Northbrook has been helping residents stay warm during the winter with its annual "Coat Off Your Back" collection drive.

In true Rotary spirit they are partnered with the Glenview Sunrise and Deerfield Clubs in their growing endeavor.

The drive is specifically focused on collecting winter coats for the many refugees that are resettling in the North Shore and Chicagoland area, along with homeless residents.

The goal is to make sure that local refugee settling organizations such as World Relief Chicago, PADs, Stock the Shelves and Connections for the Homeless will be able to provide winter coats for infants, children, teens, and adults they serve.

"Every year, refugees from different parts of the world end up being resettled in the Chicago area, frequently arriving with few possessions from home," Rick Rosenfeld, the coat drive's organizer. "There was an influx of refugees each spending their first winter in Chicago."

The clubs are hoping to help the community repurpose their gently-used or new winter coats as they shop for new things this season. Coats for school aged children are a big need so that they can safely walk to classes. Teens are often forgotten and they need warm coats too.

"We know there are many heavy coats in people’s closets that are no longer being used, so if area residents take a few moments to check for those that could benefit from a new owner, we would be grateful." Rosenfeld said.

You can buy winter coats as well -many area shops have sales right now- so its a great time to contribute in this way.

Donations bins are throughout the communities, all locations and updates will be posted on the Rotary websites.

Here are a few places to note: Northbrook Village Hall; Northbrook Chamber; American Weathermakers; North Suburban YMCA; Northbrook Library; Sunset Foods; Sanders Cleaners; Northbrook Bank Trust on Sanders; Waterways; Northbrook United Methodist Church. If you have kids – their schools may also have drop locations.

Don’t forget to bring a coat to Illuminate on November 22 in Village Green. The Two Men and a Truck team is again a partner in this effort, transporting coats across the greater Chicagoland area.

Your donation can make a difference in someone’s life. We thank you in advance for helping us.

Here is where to find north shore area donation bins:

Deerfield

• Deerfield High School
• Deerfield Jewel (Lake Cook and Waukegan)
• Deerfield Library
• Deerfield Park District Community Center
• Deerfield Village Hall
• Patty Turner Senior Center
• Sachs Recreation Center
• Starbucks (Lake Cook and Waukegan)
• Whole Foods (Deerfield and Waukegan)

Glenview

• Ace Hardware
• Glenbrook South High School
• Glenview Ice Center
• Glenview Library
• Glenview Park Center
• Glenview Tennis Club
• North Shore Racquet Club

Northbrook (Coats will also be collected at Illuminate Northbrook on 11/22)

• American Weathermakers
• Ancient Tree
• Glenbrook North High School
• Greenbriar Elementary School
• Maple School
• Meadowbrook Elementary School
• Northbrook Bank (Sanders and Dundee)
• Northbrook Chamber of Commerce & Industry
• Northbrook Junior High School
• Northbrook Library
• Northbrook United Methodist Church
• Northbrook Village Hall
• Sanders Cleaners
• St. Giles Church
• Sunset Foods
• Waterways (Waukegan Road)
• Wescott Elementary School
• Westmoor Elementary School
• YMCA

NorthbrookRotary.org