The man behind thousands of donated Carolina coats

If you ever wonder where the coats you donate to Steve’s Coats for Kids go after you put them in a collection bin, then meet Jarrett.

Jarrett is part of the Cintas team, and for the fifth year, Cintas has collected for Steve’s Coats for Kids, led by Channel 9 chief meteorologist Steve Udelson.

Thousands of coats each year are accounted for and inspected by Cintas.

Every weekday, Jarrett hits the road and makes stops at donation locations across the Carolinas.

Each coat is sorted, hung and inspected. For those coats that need extra attention, Cintas launders, replaces buttons, hems and otherwise does whatever it takes to get it looking almost new.

Generally, each coat is out of a collection bin and ready for the back of a local child in need within days of being donated.

Here in Charlotte, Cintas has provided this incredible service to the community for free to help make life easier for some of the area’s children who are most in need.

The next time you see a Cintas driver, or Jarrett, picking up coats, give them a special thank you because they are doing a great service for the community.

WSOC-TV’s Steve’s Coats for Kids campaign was introduced in 2005. All donations are distributed through the Crisis Assistance Ministry, an independent nonprofit agency focused on preventing homelessness and preserving dignity for Charlotte-Mecklenburg’s working poor.

Steve’s Coats for Kids has collected over 200,000 coats, and every one spends less than 48 hours in the Crisis Assistance Ministry Free Store before benefiting someone in need.

There are more than 70 Steve’s Coats for Kids donation locations across the Carolinas, including Showmars, Ashley HomeStore, E.R. Plumbing Services, Crisis Assistance Ministry and all Charlotte fire stations.

CLICK HERE TO FIND A STEVE’S COATS DONATION LOCATION NEAR YOU.

You can find out more information and discover how you can get involved at www.StevesCoatsForKids.com.

If you have an inspiring story, please contact Kevin Campbell, WSOC-TV/WAXN-TV/Telemundo Charlotte Public Affairs Manager, at Kevin.Campbell@wsoctv.com.

Cox Media Group