Help others stay warm this holiday season by donating coats and outwear to The Kids Care Coat Drive. The annual coat drive is a community service project supported by the City of Bellevue- Youth Link and area schools with the purpose of collecting and distributing much-needed coats during the cold winter months. This year, The Kids Care Coat Drive will hold its distribution event at Crossroads Community Center on Jan. 9.

Created by Bellevue student Rick Teegarden in 2004, the annual coat drive has brought in more than 3,000 pieces of outwear over the past four years. Teegarden first saw a need for warm coats while volunteering with Youth Links “Teen Closet.” He has since gone on to partner with numerous charities and social service organizations.

New and gently used coats can be dropped off at collection boxes found at Crossroads Shopping Center, inside the Bellevue Police Department Substation, just outside of Target in the Factoria Mall, and at the North Bellevue Community Center. The Factoria Security Self Storage donates space during the months of December and January for Teegarden and volunteers to collect and organize the clothing donations prior to the distribution event.

If you are interested in helping out at the distribution event, contact Patrick Alina 425-452-5254. For more information visit www.youthlink.com for more information.

Collection locations:

Sammamish High School, 100-140th Ave. S.E.

Overlake School, 20301 N.E. 108th St., Redmond

International School, 445-128th Ave. S.E.

Woodridge Elementary, 12619 S.E. 20th Place

Mount Si High, 8651 Meadowbrook Way S.E., Snoqualmie

Crossroads Shopping Center, near the Mini City Hall

South Bellevue Community Center, 4063 148th Ave. N.E.

Factoria Security Self Storage, 13120 S.E. 30th St.

Lake Street Bar & Grill, 15 Lake Street Suite 203, Kirkland, 425-822-8386. Lake Street will host a charity donation night on Dec. 20 beginning at 8 p.m. to collect coats and warm clothing.