I want to start a Coats for Kids campaign here. How do I get started?

I work for a community action agency with limited resources, but the ability to partner with lots of people.I want to start a Coats for Kids campaign here. How do I get started?
Call your local United Way (or similar agency) to be sure that this is not already available in your area.





If it's not, contact your local churches, Salvation army, schools, local government and determine their requirements for doing a ';coat drive'; and contact local schools and churches and other agencies to get a list of the kids who may need the coats. (For privacy reasons, you may not want to handle actually names, but just request a ';head-count';.)





You may also want to approach your local newspaper to see if they would be willing to run ads for your ';collection day'; event at a public location, and a second ad for your ';distribution day'; event. You may want to ask local dry cleaners and laundry mats to exchange the cleaning of the donated coats for mention in all freebie advertising and in the ';Thank you'; letter to the editor that you will write for all of those individuals, businesses and agencies that participated in the event -- be sure to include numbers on how many needy children were served by the drive and announce it as an annual event, if you plan to continue the service in future years.





You may even want to work with a local business each year to provide hot cocoa and cookies for those who show up to get the coats. Give your event an appealing name ';Keeping Cozy'; or something and create a theme that carries out the message.





Best of luck!I want to start a Coats for Kids campaign here. How do I get started?
In our community it is run by a television station. You can go to their site, and find ';Coats for Kids';. Maybe you can get your television station to do it with you, also.