Coats for the Cold is an annual coat drive to collect thousands of coats for those in our area who otherwise may not have a coat during the frigid winter months. In 2024 and 2025, the East Tennessee community donated more than a combined 17,500 coats!

Each year in the fall, the community is invited to donate new or gently-used men’s, women’s, and children’s coats at any KARM Stores or Prestige Cleaners location. Collection typically begins in October with the official dates being released by August.

For individuals in need of a coat, they are encouraged to contact local service agencies or churches to receive a coat ticket, then shop at any KARM Stores location with the ticket any time during the distribution period following collection. The 2025 Coats for the Cold event ended on December 6th.

Coats for the Cold has been a Knoxville tradition since 1985. WIVK-FM started this coat drive when a news story reported that a homeless man had frozen to death on the streets of Knoxville one cold winter night. Since then, Coats for the Cold strikes a powerful chord among the volunteers of East Tennessee. Knox Area Rescue Ministries now spearheads the coat drive in partnership with KARM Stores, who manage all collection, storage, and distribution of the coats.

While all coats are welcome, each year we find we especially need children’s coats and adult coats sized XL and above.

Many area service agencies and churches participate as coat ticket partners. Contact your local church or social service agency to inquire about receiving a ticket.

Feel free to collect coats at your location, then bring them to any KARM Stores or Prestige Cleaners location during the collection period.

We’ve created several different sizes of posters you can download and print.

C4C Flyer 2025

Yes! It takes many hands to sort and hang thousands of coats! Opportunities will be available to help at all KARM Stores locations beginning October 30th. At all KARM Stores locations, each donated coat must be sorted by gender and size prior to November 18th. Additional help is needed to display them properly from November 18th to December 7th. Select a day, time and location to serve and provide the information requested in the “Coats for the Cold Volunteer Opportunities” button below to schedule your volunteer experience. Come be a part of this important community effort!

2025 Sponsors