Milford police and YMCA seek coats for homeless vets

The Milford Police Department and Carls Family YMCA are asking residents to donate articles of gently-used clothing as part of a holiday season coat drive to benefit homeless veterans.

Residents can donate gently-used coats, hats, gloves and scarfs by placing them in a box in the lobby of the Milford Police Station at the Milford Civic Center, 1100 Atlantic Street, or in a box at the Carls Family YMCA at 300 Family Drive.

“We’re going to keep this going as long as need be through December,” Milford Police Chief Thomas Lindberg said. “We won’t be choosy, but we need items as gently-used as possible.”

He added that coats will be picked up every couple days to be donated to homeless veterans.

According to a 2009 report conducted by the National Coalition for the Homeless, between 130,000 and 200,000 veterans are homeless on any given night in America.

The report also states that approximately 40 percent of homeless men are veterans, even though veterans comprise only 34 percent of the general adult male population.

The Carls Family YMCA also offers memberships and respite child care services to eligible military families as part of its Military Outreach Initiative.