Coat drives near Springfield, Ohio
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 Springfield 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.
One Dublin
- Address: 6305 Brand Rd, Dublin, OH 43016
Northwest United Methodist
- Address: 5200 Riverside Dr, Columbus, OH 43220
Westside Free Store Ministries
- Address: 61 S Powell Ave, Columbus, OH 43204
Community Refugee and Immigration Services (CRIS)
- Address: 4645 Executive Drive, Columbus, OH 43220
Festa
- Address: Po Box 12063, Columbus, OH 43212
Fund The Climb Foundation
- Address: 815 W. Broad St., Ste 310, Columbus, OH 43222
The Reeb Center
- Address: 280 REEB AVE, COLUMBUS, OH 43207-1936
The Open Shelter
- Address: 1037 Parsons Ave, Columbus, OH 43206
Live Life To The Fullest
- Address: PO Box 32283, Columbus, OH 43232
Vibe Venue
- Address: 10 Dillmont Drive, Columbus, OH 43235
J.Crew Pinecrest #828
- Address: 300 Park Avenue Suite 156, Orange Ville, OH, 44122
Mission Warmth
- Address: 394 Restoration Drive, Deleware, OH 43015
Krieger Ford
- Address: 1800 Morse Rd, Columbus, OH 43229
J.Crew Easton Town Center #568
- Address: 3930 Easton Square Place E, Columbus, OH, 43219
Live Life To The Fullest
- Address: Po Box 32283, Columbus, OH 43232
This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Jaimie Etkin, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 395 metros.