Coat drives near Milwaukee

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 Milwaukee 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.

Kids Matter
- Address: 1850 N Dr Martin Luther King Jr Dr Ste 202, Milwaukee, WI 53212

Guest House of Milwaukee
- Address: 1216 N 13Th St, Milwaukee, WI 53205

Mahogany CARES Foundation Inc.
- Address: 2342 N 27Th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53210

Auer Avenue Community School
- Address: 2319 W Auer Ave, Milwauke, WI 53206

Just One More Ministry, Inc.
- Address: 4180 N Lydell Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53212

Joyce's House of Milwaukee Inc
- Address: 5601 West North Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53208

Holy Temple Firstborn M.B.C.
- Address: 4960 N. 18th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53209

Brim Cafe and Catering
- Address: Honey Creek Corporate Center, Lower Level, 125 S. 84th Street, Milwaukee, WI 5321

J.Crew Mayfair #600
- Address: 2500 N. Mayfair Road #404, Wauwatosa, WI, 53226

Resources & Beyond
- Address: 333 West Browndeer Rd, G-842, Milwaukee, WI 53217

Hope Center
- Address: 502 N East Ave, Waukesha, WI 53186

Walk by Faith
- Address: 2324 Taylor Ave, Racine, WI 53403

Cornerstone Caregiving
- Address: 3200 Sheridan Road #102, Kenosha, WI 53140

Law Offices of RF Wittmeyer Ltd.
- Address: 520 58th St., Suite 101, Kenosha, WI 53140

Our Shining Stars Foundation
- Address: 2321 Elisha, Zion, IL 60099

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