YORKVILLE – A local winter clothing drive is giving neighbors a practical way to help children in Utica and Rome prepare for the cold. Steet Ponte Auto Group’s ninth annual Coats for Kids drive collection is accepting new outerwear through November 2, 2026.
In its October 12 announcement, Steet Ponte Ford said the group’s Yorkville-area stores will provide donations to schools in Utica and Rome. Employees, customers and other community members are invited to contribute to the Coats for Kids drive.
The effort builds on a substantial response last winter. According to the group’s holiday donations page, the 2025 drive collected 1,425 pieces of winter outerwear, including 444 coats. The remaining donations included snow pants, hats, gloves, scarves and boots.
The Coats for Kids drive aims to ensure every child has access to warm winter clothing.
More than a coat collection
This year’s drive began October 1 and accepts new winter clothing in all children’s sizes. The requested items cover several everyday needs:
- Winter coats and jackets
- Snow pants
- Snow boots
- Hats
- Gloves and mittens
- Scarves and other new winter outerwear
That range gives donors flexibility. A contribution can be a pair of mittens or a hat as well as a larger item such as a coat. The collection is specifically for new clothing, so readers should keep used items separate when preparing a donation.
Support across the valley
The campaign extends beyond the Yorkville stores. In its October 6 announcement, Steet Ponte Chevrolet said its collection will support elementary students in Herkimer, Central Valley and Frankfort.
Chevrolet’s announcement lists the same October 1–November 2 collection window and the same request for new clothing in children’s sizes. It also identifies employees, customers and community members as the people who make the annual effort possible.
With different stores collecting for different school communities, residents can choose a convenient drop-off while contributing to a larger regional effort. Donors who have a particular school or size in mind can ask the receiving dealership about its arrangements before shopping.
Where to bring a donation
Steet Ponte Ford accepts donations during normal business hours at 5074 Commercial Drive in Yorkville. Its hours and directions page lists sales hours of 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. It is closed Sunday.
For drop-off questions, call 315-275-2070 and confirm arrangements before making a special trip. The collection continues through Monday, November 2.
Image disclosure: The cover and accompanying image are AI-generated editorial illustrations by Utica Phoenix. They represent winter clothing donations and do not depict actual recipients or a documented collection scene.
