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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR- 342-03
December 1, 2003

MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG ANNOUNCES 15th ANNUAL NEW YORK CARES COAT DRIVE

Over 400 Drop-off Sites Throughout the Metropolitan Area

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today launched the 15th Annual New York Cares Coat Drive at the Bowery Mission by donating twelve coats, including one of his own, that were collected at City Hall.  The Coat Drive, which continues through December 31st, will collect gently used adult and children's throughout the Metropolitan Area and distribute them to needy New Yorkers at homeless shelters, community organizations and groups assisting senior citizens.  This year, New York Cares hopes to collect and distribute 70,000 coats, adding to the more than half-million coats collected since the Coat Drive's inception in 1989.  The Bowery Mission Executive Director Brian Johannson, New York Cares Executive Director Ariel Zwang, United Parcel Service Metro NY District Planning Manager Lisa Mitchell President, General Manager of WNBC Frank Comerford and Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly joined the Mayor for the announcement at the Bowery Mission in Lower Manhattan.    

"The New York Cares Coat Drive helps keep those who are less fortunate warm during the severe winter weather," said Mayor Bloomberg.  "The holiday season is a magical time that brings out the generosity in New Yorkers who have collectively donated more than a half a million coats in the past 14 years.  I encourage all New Yorkers who are able to support the New York Cares Coat Drive by looking in their closets and dropping off a coat.  It's an easy way to help someone in need and save some space in your closet."

"The Police Department has been a part of the New York Cares Coat Drive since its inception. We are proud once again to take part in this annual holiday tradition of giving," said New York City Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly.  "We encourage any New Yorker who can to help the less fortunate among us by dropping off a winter coat at any police precinct in the City."

"Suffering through the winter without a coat would be brutal, and thousands of New Yorkers, including many children, do not have a coat to keep them warm," said Executive Director of New York Cares Ariel Zwang.  "Through this effort, we want people to recognize that they can help others immensely by simply giving a coat."

To make donations easy, New York Cares has arranged for over 400 drop-off sites throughout the Metropolitan area.  Public drop-off sites include:

  • Any New York City Police Department Precinct  in the five boroughs day or night.
  • NY Penn Station LIRR and Amtrak concourse, weekdays from 7:30 AM - 9:30AM.
  • Grand Central Terminal, Graybar Passage, weekdays from 7:30 AM - 9:30AM.
  • Participating NY/NJ Washington Mutual Branches.
  • Participating Walgreens Pharmacies. 
  • The Community Resource Center at 75 Rockefeller Plaza (in the lobby of the Time Warner building at 51st Street, between 5th and 6th Avenues), weekdays from 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM.  
  • All Janovic Plaza Stores in Manhattan.
  • Time Warner Cable Office Payment Centers in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens.

Sponsors of The 15th Annual New York Cares Coat Drive include United Parcel Service (UPS), the New York City Police Department, WNBC-TV, Viacom Outdoor, Time Warner Cable, J. Walter Thompson, Chelsea Market, MovieFone, and the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA).  New York Cares also partners with Jersey Cares on the Coat Drive.  Jersey Cares operates drop-off sites throughout northern New Jersey.

Founded in 1987, New York Cares creates nearly 50,000 opportunities each year for volunteers to provide hands-on help to schools, social service agencies, homeless shelters, and other organizations.  For additional information regarding the Coat Drive and/or drop-off sites, call (212) 402-1173 or visit: www.nycares.org.







MEDIA CONTACT:


Ed Skyler / Lark-Marie Antón   (212) 788-2958

Sharon Sampson (New York Cares)   (212) 843-8296




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