New Coat Drive Launched To Warm LIers During Cold Winter Months

NORTH FORK, NY — The weather may still be balmy but the blue skies of September signal the coming soon of fall and winter, when temperatures drop and many Long Islanders will be in need of warm clothing to protect themselves from the cold.

To that end, Pastor Lesaya Kelly of Crossover Christian Church in Mount Sinai and her husband Chris Kelly, master beekeeper at Promise Land Apiaries in Mattituck — the couple lives on the North Fork — have launched a coat drive for the church, beginning on Thursday and running through Nov. 11.

They are asking for donations of clean, gently used, or new coats, hats, scarves, gloves and mittens in all sizes.

"For the last 13 years we’ve done a Thanksgiving food drive, feeding 100 families across Long Island," Pastor Kelly said. "It took me several years of 'looking' to find people financially compromised. Now we are anticipating a tough winter with increased costs. Compromised families need all the help they can get. When you get to that point of need, you are not too proud, but we can treat people with dignity," she said.

On the North Fork, drop off locations can be found at Front Street Station, located at 212 Front Street in Greenport, Mullen Motors, located at 55980 Route 25 in Southold, and at the Mattituck-Laurel Library, located at 13900 Main Road in Mattituck.

Volunteer Jill Franke of Southold will be setting up collection bins and both dropping off and delivering items during the drive.