National Clothesline

When its 2004-05 Coats for Kids drive ended on January 15 of this year, Anton’s Cleaners (with plenty of help from its multitude of co-sponsors) had collected, cleaned and distributed 64,603 coats, topping its goal for the season by 29.2 percent.

Using all of the resources at its disposal — including each of its 43 locations in Eastern Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire — Anton’s estimated the total value of its voluntary cleaning services for the season at over $617,000.

More than 240 schools helped to collect coats, along with thousands of individuals, making the drive’s 10th anniversary quite memorable.

In fact, in that span of time, a total of 317,315 coats have been donated and redistributed to those in need of warm, winter garments in the region.

Now in its 11th year, Anton’s hopes to continue its success, setting the bar for the annual goal at 55,000 coats.

The drive kicked off a little earlier than normal on Oct. 1 and will run through January 15, 2006. The start date was moved up in order to help Hurricane Katrina evacuees in the Massachusetts area.

Anton’s will be accepting only good quality garments, which means those without rips, tears, permanent stains, broken zippers or missing buttons. They will accept garments in both adult and children sizes at all of its 43 stores during the 3 1é2-month period of the drive.

Joining them in the effort will be promotional partner Fox 25, which has aired more than 300 spots free of charge to advertise the program, and the Boston Bruins NHL hockey team.

Also lending a helping hand along the way are the Salvation Army, Cradles to Crayons, MASSCAP (Massachusetts Association for Community Action), Citizens Bank, Graham Communications, Bertucci’s Brick Oven Ristorante, RAM Leather, Roche Brothers, Williams Engineering and Package Supply Corporation.

In addition to those sponsors, there is also a host of corporate partners providing assistance, including companies such as Boston Retail, SkillSoft, State Street, Webster Manor, Ascential, EDS, Columbia Construction Company, Jazzercise, Lynne Laboratories and Fidelity Investments.

Last year, various awards were given out to recognize several elementary and middle schools who worked hard to collect the highest average number of garments-per-students.

The 2004-05 School Reward winners included: Helen H. Hansen Elementary School of Stoughton; South Elementary School of Stoneham; North Pembroke Elementary School of Pembroke; Galvin Middle School of Wakefield; Watertown Middle School of Watertown; and Andover West Middle School of Andover.

Schools who want to participate in the program this year will compete for various prizes, including $1,000 and a sundae party for first place and a visit from a Fox 25 weatherman.

Second place winner will receive $500 cash and a pizza party with beverages; third place schools will earn $250 cash and a $500 gift certificate for school supplies.

For more information, visit Anton’s at www.antons.com and click on the “Coats for Kids” link located at the top of the home page, or call the Coats for Kids Hotline at (800) 659-0069.