A coat. It seems so basic. But thousands of children in our viewing area need warm winter wear for the cold months ahead, especially families devastated by Hurricanes Florence and Michael.

Coats for the Children is WRAL’s major community campaign to support families in need. We ask our viewers to donate gently used, clean coats, hats and gloves to outfit children for winter. We also collect new toys to make the holidays brighter for children at the Salvation Army.

Currently, more than 10,000 children in Wake County need a warm coat and will not have a new toy this holiday season unless we help. In Durham, Orange and Person counties, over 1,200 children need warm winter clothing, as do 1,100 children in Johnston County. And in Cumberland County, over 3,000 children need warm coats and new toys for the holiday season.

$25 donation buys a cozy hat, gloves and scarf	$75 donation buys a warm coat and fun toy
$45 donation buys a comfy sweatshirt, sweatpants and pajamas	$125 donation buys a complete winter outfit
$50 donation buys a warm coat	$175 donation buys a complete winter outfit and toys
Salvation Army: Donate your time	$25 x 12 = $300 Help a child all year with a $25 gift each month

Pledge right now to provide warm winter wear and holiday toys for children in the Triangle and eastern NC. Click the Donate ribbon or text COATS to 41444 to give any amount and help WRAL make a positive difference for less fortunate children during our 30th Annual Coats for the Children campaign!

The 2018 Annual Coats for the Children Telethon set a record, raising $190,642 to help provide new, warm coats, hats, gloves, long underwear, and other winter clothing for local children in need. Thanks to the generous viewers of WRAL-TV, we exceeded our goal to raise $185,000 and set a new record for the 30-year campaign!

Since 1989, thanks to your generosity, WRAL has collected more than 162,500 coats and raised $2 million to provide warm winter clothing for Salvation Army families in need.

A special thanks to our Presenting Sponsors Jiffy Lube and Chiesi for supporting this campaign.

There are four ways to donate:

1. Drop off used, clean coats and new toys by December 31.

2. Text message a donation!
Text COATS to 41444 to make a debit/credit card gift of any size. Messaging & data rates may appl

3. Donate online through the Salvation Army's secure donation site:

From now until December 31, click here, on one of the photos above or on the "Donate" ribbon on this page to make a secure online donation using your credit card.

Join us Friday, December 14, from 6 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., for our Coats for the Children Telethon. Call 919-744-3877 or text COATS to 41444.

4. Send a check
Checks should be made payable to The Salvation Army at:
Coats for the Children
P.O. Box 12000
Raleigh, N.C. 27605

Bring coats and toys to participating Jiffy Lube locations in Apex, Cary, Chapel Hill, Clayton, Durham, Fayetteville, Fuquay-Varina, Garner, Goldsboro, Knightdale, Pittsboro, Raleigh, Research Triangle Park, Spring Lake, Wake Forest, Wendell, Wilson and Zebulon.

Search by city or county to find a location near you, or find one on the map.

Thank you to our sponsors

Find Salvation Army volunteer opportunities at other times during the year.

The Salvation Army can help you get a warm coat and other winter clothing for your family.