RALEIGH, N.C. — Coat drives across the country are in desperate need as poverty levels rise.

U.S. Census Bureau data revealed the poverty rate increased in 2022 to 12.5%. That’s up 4.6% from the previous year, which means the need for food, clothes and shelter is even greater.

One Warm Coat is partnering with AmeriCorps to bring coats to underserved communities on MLK National Day of Service.

Patti Zappa, executive vice president of One Warm Coat, says simple acts of kindness on MLK National Day of Service can make a difference in a child’s life, because kids often go to school without a coat.

“A coat is very expensive and for children who don’t have a coat, sometimes they can’t play outside for recess, sometimes they can’t get to school, so a coat is preventing them from getting to school," Zappa said.

Their mission is to provide free coats to children and families in need through their coat drive campaign.

“We have a three-step program, we provide all the tools and resources you need for how to hold a coat drive, how long to do it. You could hold it one day for a few hours, you could do it for a few weeks, really whatever you’re looking to achieve,” Zappa said.

The last step to that program is they connect people in need with a nonprofit in their communities.

“You search a separate map on our website, and it shows you all the nonprofits in your area that have said to us, 'we need coats,'” Zappa said.

If you cannot hold a coat drive, you can donate to a coat drive.

Here’s the link to learn about drives in North Carolina.

Here’s a link to some of the nonprofit partners in North Carolina. It also explains how to host a coat drive, donate coats and donate funding.