Donate to Coats for Kids
You can help keep Grande Prairie warm each winter. Donate your gently-used winter-wear to the Merv Crouse Coats for Kids Campaign. Drop off your jackets, pants, snowsuits, mitts & toques at Crouse’s Cleaners between October 1st and October 31st. Children are the focus of the program, but items are accepted in all sizes. Materials must be washable (we cannot accept boots, leather, suede, or wool).
Donations are cleaned & redistributed free of charge to those in need.
We Accept:
- Ski/Snow Pants & Coats
- Toques
- Scarves
- Gloves
- Mittens
We Cannot Accept:
- Boots
- Wool
- Leather
- Suede
- Items in need of repair
- Badly damaged items
Coats for Kids Distribution
The Coats for Kids Distribution Centre will be located at the Grande Prairie Family Education Society again this year (9607-102 Street). They will be open October 15 to November 14. Gently-used winter-wear in all sizes is available free of charge to those in need.
A Story of Community
The Coats for Kids program began in 1991 as a grassroots effort led by a group of dedicated community partners who recognized the need to provide warm winter clothing to children in our area. From the beginning, it has been a truly community-driven initiative, shaped and supported by a wide range of local organizations and volunteers.
In 2009, the program was renamed Merv Crouse Coats for Kids in honour of the late Merv Crouse, who had supported the campaign from its earliest days by cleaning donated coats. His commitment and kindness left a lasting impact on both the program and the community it serves.
Over the years, thousands of coats — in sizes ranging from children to adults — have been collected and distributed each fall, helping ensure that no one goes without the warmth and dignity they deserve during the cold winter months in our northern community. This enduring legacy is a testament to the power of community and the spirit of generosity that continues to fuel the program year after year.