National Clothesline

In Texas, Jack Brown Cleaners kicked off its 20th annual “Coats For Kids” coat drive in early December in hopes of keeping Austin’s children warm this winter.

The company, founded in 1936, is family owned and operated and currently has more than 65 locations with about 500 employees.

It helps collect the coats and cleans them free of charge so that about 1,400 volunteers can help distribute them at the Palmer Events Center.

Jack Brown, The Junior League of Austin, KVUE Austin and KASE 101 all chip in to hand out the garments to local citizens who need some protection from the harsh winter temperatures.

According to Brandi Wright, spokeswoman for the Coats For Kids Committee, there will be plenty to go around for everybody who shows up. In past years, many families would line up early. This year the wait is expected to be no longer than 15 minutes.

“We will be moving out more coats constantly, so there’s no need to show up early to get the best ones,” she told The Daily Texan.

According to Jack Brown Cleaner’s web site, located at www.jackbrowncleaners.com, the company has helped collect, clean and distribute over half a million winter coats for the children of central Texas since the program’s inception about two decades ago.

In the past 17 winters, over 100,000 residents in Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas have directly benefited from Porter’s Cleaners “Coats For Kids” program.

While collecting 100,000 coats over the years is certainly an impressive figure, the Bossier City-based company isn’t resting on its laurels.

This year, Porter’s began its annual drive as cold temperatures began to climb, and they will continue collecting and cleaning winter garments until the drive’s distribution day arrives on Saturday, Jan. 6.

Plant owner Mark Porter told a writer for nwlanews.com that he started the project 17 years ago when he heard how a friend of his in Indiana was doing something similar.

“When I heard about this idea, I thought, ‘This is something we need to do’,” Porter said. “It is a recycling project and it feels great to be able to lend our talents in cleaning to help provide coats to kids who need them.”

In addition to collecting and cleaning the coats free of charge, Porter’s also repairs them and helps distribute them along with co-sponsors KSLA TV 12 and Goodwill Industries.

In Jan. there will be a public distribution of the coats from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at Goodwill Industries, located at 800 West 70th St. in Shreveport, as well as Porter’s Cleaners at 512 Benton Road in Bossier City.

“There are barrels set up at area schools and we are asking that any child who has outgrown a coat to bring them to school and place them in the barrel.” he added.

Porter’s Cleaners is a family-owned business that began over 30 years ago. They have a corporate office in Bossier City and seven locations throughout Bossier City and Shreveport, LA. Their web site is located at www.porters-cleaners.com.