The Bears on Wednesday, in partnership with Jewel-Osco and with support from The Salvation Army and Shur-Way Movers, kicked off their 36th annual Coat Drive, which will run through Feb. 10, 2025.
New and gently used winter coats can be dropped off at all 189 Jewel-Osco stores across Illinois. Fans can also donate coats at Bears Fit (155 E Townline Rd, Vernon Hills).
"We are incredibly grateful for the generosity of Bears fans year after year," said Bears director of equipment Tony Medlin. "Their continued support allows us to make a real difference in the lives of so many. Every single coat donated helps protect someone from the harsh Chicago winter, offering not just warmth, but a sense of security and comfort. Together, we are keeping thousands of individuals warm and safe, and that's something we can all be proud of."
"As you're well aware, the need is so great out there," Mary Frances Trucco, Jewel-Osco's director of public affairs & government relations said. "As I tell everybody, this weather is not helping us right now but we hope that people will continue to look through their closets or to go out and purchase new or used coats. We have 189 stores. We are ready for any coat or item to be dropped off."
The Coat Drive's goal is to collect more than 25,000 coats for those in need in the Chicagoland area. Each year, thousands of residents face the winter months without a proper coat, putting them at risk for serious health conditions like hypothermia and frostbite.
"We are so grateful to partner with Jewel, with Shur-Way, and of course, with the Chicago Bears to bring hope to others this season," Major Caleb Senn of The Salvation Army said. "It doesn't feel like it today, but it's Chicago. Winter will absolutely come — probably sooner than we'd like it to and people will need coats. Seventeen percent of households in Chicagoland are living below the poverty level, which means about a quarter of children in Chicago are living below the poverty level.
"Imagine for a moment being a parent that has to make this difficult decision: 'Am I going to pay the utility bills or am I going to buy my kid a coat? Am I going to put food on the table or am I going to buy my kid a coat?' Thanks to generous Bears fans this season, that decision will not have to be made."
If you are in need of a coat or have questions, please call The Salvation Army's Holiday Hotline at 773.205.3690.
