Chase Gavin Coat-A-Kid Drive launches 6th season, accepting donations to outfit Louisville-area students

The Chase Gavin Coat-A-Kid Drive is back for its sixth year, and organizers say the program is now accepting donations to help keep Jefferson County Public Schools students warm as temperatures drop. The annual effort, based in Louisville, is intended to provide winter coats and other cold-weather items for children in the JCPS district, which serves thousands of students across the Louisville metro area.

According to WAVE, the drive kicked off recently and is inviting community members to contribute items rather than wait until later in the season. Organizers described the collection as part of a long-running effort to meet students’ winter needs before cold weather becomes a barrier for attendance and comfort in school buildings.

The donation period is timed to align with the early part of the school year, when families often begin looking for warmer clothing. Organizers said the goal is to collect enough coats so children can have suitable outerwear for outdoor conditions, as well as to reduce the likelihood that students go without basic winter gear during routine school activities.

WAVE’s report also identifies the event’s namesake, Chase Gavin, and frames the drive as a continued community partnership that brings together donors and volunteers to distribute items to students. While specific drop-off locations, deadlines, or distribution dates were not detailed in the report provided, the article indicates donations are being accepted as the drive begins its sixth season.

For JCPS families, the drive is positioned as a practical supplement to household needs during colder months, when costs for coats, hats, and other winter clothing can add up. For the broader Louisville community, the effort offers a direct way to participate in a school-linked support program that focuses on student readiness and day-to-day comfort.

Organizers said the drive is accepting donations now, with the program designed to build momentum early rather than relying on last-minute collections. Those interested in participating are directed by the organizers to the drive’s donation process as published with the start of the campaign, with further guidance expected as the season progresses.