Nearly 15 percent of Americans are living in poverty and struggling to provide warm coats for themselves and their families. The Menlo Park Police Explorers have teamed up with One Warm Coat to help warm our local neighbors in need. All coats collected by the Explorers go to a local agency for distribution to local children and adults in need and all dollars donated will support One Warm Coat’s programs and outreach efforts. The Explorers’ goal is to collect 200 coats! 
 
Now through Jan. 4, 2017, stop by the Police Department lobby at 701 Laurel St. or the Neighborhood Service Center at 871 Hamilton Ave. to drop off new or gently worn clean coats. You can also donate dollars! Donations to One Warm Coat support their coat drive program and outreach efforts. Every $5 donated = 10 people warmed! You can donate by cash or check during the coat drive at the police department lobby or donate online (please include coat drive No. 16-0053 in the comments section so our Explorers receive credit.)

One Warm Coat is a national nonprofit organization that works to provide a free, warm coat to any person in need and raises awareness of the vital need for warm coats. Coats are distributed in the communities where they were collected without charge, discrimination or obligation. Since their inception in 1992, they have worked with volunteers to give away over 4 million coats.