Coat drives near Mansfield

For the first time since 2010, the poverty rate in America shot up dramatically in 2022, according to data from the Census Bureau. That means more Americans can't afford basic needs like food, clothing, shelter, and utilities than has been the case in more than a decade.

But the situation isn't just affecting Americans living in poverty. United Way uses the term ALICE to refer to the increasing number of people who are asset-limited, income-constrained, and employed but are still not able to afford their basic needs. In 2021, 13% of Americans earned below the federal poverty level but many more, 29%, fell under the ALICE umbrella, according to the grassroots movement United for ALICE.

A study published in August 2022 from Brandeis University found that more than 75% of low-income families working full-time cannot cover the cost of basic needs. What's more, fewer than 1 in 5 low-income Hispanic and Black families in particular are able to afford the costs of a household budget. "Full-time work alone isn't enough to cover the everyday essentials most families need to support themselves," the study's lead author, Pamela Joshi, who holds a doctorate in social policy, said in a statement.

If you're looking for ways to help, particularly as the temperatures drop and the holidays approach, consider cleaning out your closet and donating a coat to those in need. To help point you in the right direction, Stacker compiled a list of coat drives near Mansfield using data from One Warm Coat, a nonprofit that provides free coats to children and adults in need across America. Since 1992, they've given out more than 7.85 million coats.

"This is one very small way to take a step forward and do something very tangible," One Warm Coat CEO Beth Amodio told USA Today in October 2023. "It's impossible to change the world. But it is possible to change one person's experience, one person at a time."

Read on to find out where you can contribute.

Huron Salvation Army
- Address: 820 Cleve Rd East, Huron, OH 44839

Medina Health & Fitness Coat Drive
- Address: 3731 Stonegate Dr, Medina, OH 44256

Mission Warmth
- Address: 394 Restoration Drive, Deleware, OH 43015

Esther's Place of Grace
- Address: 10420 Worthington Rd, Pataskala, OH 43062

J.Crew Pinecrest #828
- Address: 300 Park Avenue Suite 156, Orange Ville, OH, 44122

Chipotle Mexican Grill
- Address: 5375 New Albany Rd W, Columbus, OH 43054

Care and Share of Erie County
- Address: 241 Jackson St, Sandusky, OH 44870

Vibe Venue
- Address: 10 Dillmont Drive, Columbus, OH 43235

J.Crew Easton Town Center #568
- Address: 3930 Easton Square Place E, Columbus, OH, 43219

Krieger Ford
- Address: 1800 Morse Rd, Columbus, OH 43229

One Dublin
- Address: 6305 Brand Rd, Dublin, OH 43016

J.Crew Summit Mall #780
- Address: 3265 W. Market Street Space #152A, Akron, OH, 44333

Haven of Rest Ministries
- Address: Po Box 547, Akron, OH 44309

Community Refugee and Immigration Services (CRIS)
- Address: 4645 Executive Drive, Columbus, OH 43220

J.Crew Crocker Park #677
- Address: 88 Main Street Space 1020, Westlake, OH, 44145

This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Jaimie Etkin, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 395 metros.