Numerous coat drives are offered throughout Northern Minnesota as the inevitable winter approaches. Although the weather outside is unseasonably warm at the moment, now is the time to donate.
Clean and gently used coats and other winter items will be accepted through Tuesday, Oct. 7, ahead of the United Way of Bemidji Area's planned distribution of coats 9 a.m.-noon Oct. 11 at First Lutheran Church.
Winter gear for men, women, children and infants can be dropped off at either Lueken’s Village Foods store or Dress Club Cleaners downtown.
United Way of Bemidji Area is also hosting a Coats for the Community drive in Blackduck. Donations will be accepted at Northwoods Lumber and Deerwood Bank through Oct. 11. The distribution will be 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 11 in the Blackduck High School commons area during student conferences.
The Brainerd Family YMCA and Knights of Columbus are accepting donations for children’s outerwear in the Brainerd area through Oct. 8.
Drop-off locations in Brainerd and Baxter include Anderson Cleaners, First Lutheran Church, Hubbard Radio, Live Well Chiropractic, the Westgate Mall and the Brainerd YMCA.
The Coats for Kids distribution will take place 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 18 at the Westgate Mall, from the former JoAnn Fabrics entrance.
The United Methodist Church of Grand Rapids is hosting the Open Door Coat Rack, an annual event sponsored by area churches and volunteers. Donations of clean, gently used outerwear on hangers will be accepted at the church from 9 a.m.-noon Oct. 18, and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 20-21.
Coats will be distributed 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 22 and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 23.
There typically is a shortage of children’s snow pants, boots, waterproof mittens and gloves, and larger adult size coats. Donations of wool coats may not be accepted in all locations.
Know of a coat drive happening in your area? Email us at news@kaxe.org and we'll add the information to our story.
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Larissa Donovan/KAXEBemidji Area Reporter Larissa Donovan reflects on her work covering stories in northwestern Minnesota and beyond in her ninth year as a journalist. -
Bemidji Area Reporter Larissa Donovan looks back on her work reporting for northwestern Minnesota in 2025 during her ninth year as a journalist. -
Lorie ShaullKAXE reporter Megan Buffington foregoes naming a favorite story and instead examines a favorite beat — and how she answers the oft-asked, "Why did you become a journalist?" -
KAXE reporter Megan Buffington foregoes naming a favorite story and instead examines a favorite beat — and how it answers the oft-asked, "Why did you become a journalist?"
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Our No. 1 and No. 2 stories of year follow the wide-ranging local impacts of sometimes swift and surprising decisions in Washington, D.C., and a severe natural disaster changes the landscape in the Bemidji area.
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Our No. 3 and No. 4 stories of year examine the state's wild rice sulfate standard as U.S. Steel seeks a variance from the MPCA, and the arrest and subsequent resignation of former state Sen. Justin Eichorn.
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Our No. 5 and No. 6 stories of year break down what it means for local sheriffs to help enforce immigration laws, and the impact of budget cuts to library systems across the region.
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Our No. 7 and No. 8 stories of year cover the proliferation of automatic license plate readers as a law enforcement tool in Northern MN, and spring wildfires that destroyed thousands of acres and hundreds of structures.
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KAXE covered natural disasters, federal funding chaos, Eichorn's arrest and resignation, mining permits and wild rice, library budget cuts, sheriffs teaming with ICE and more. -
Our No. 9 and No. 10 stories of year include an unusual strike over whether a wide range of Essentia Health providers can form a union and the controversial sale of an MN utility company.
