Colvin Cleaners' 28th annual 'Coats 4 Kids' campaign partners with Mafia Babes & Valu Home Centers

Press Release

Colvin Cleaners is launching its 28th annual “Coats 4 Kids” campaign with new partnerships with two valued members of the Western New York Community: Mafia Babes and Valu Home Centers.

Vice President Christopher Billoni said the new additions to the annual collection drive will help answer the greater-than-ever need for winter coats, hats, gloves, boots and scarves.

“Many Western New York families are facing economic hardships – challenges that are compounded by our harsher winters and more unpredictable weather patterns,” he said. “That has led to an unprecedented demand for warm winter clothing, which has resulted in a depleted supply of children’s winter wear for those in need. That’s why we are expanding our ‘Coats 4 Kids’ collection efforts this year by partnering with Mafia Babes, who are coordinating donations, and Valu Home Centers as new drop-off locations. The extra coats, hats, scarves, gloves and boots in the back of everyone’s closet can make a real difference in someone's life this winter. We’re happy to clean and distribute everything for free, but first we need the donations."

Valu Home Centers Executive Vice President and Chief Merchandising Officer Dan Diemert noted the company’s network of stores as key to the “Coats 4 Kids” campaign.

“We’re proud to partner with Colvin Cleaners to help collect winter items for ‘Coats 4 Kids,” he said. “With locations across WNY and an incredible team dedicated to helping our community, Valu is excited to do our part to ensure that WNY families stay warm this winter.”

Colvin Cleaners President and CEO Paul Billoni said the varied “Coats 4 Kids” collaborations ensure efficient distribution of the collected items to those in need.

"With the generous support of our sponsors, nonprofit partners, and the Western New York community, we provide warmth and comfort to those who need it most," he said. "Every donated coat represents a shield against the cold and a symbol of hope for families facing difficult times."

Donations of new or gently used coats, jackets, gloves, hats and scarves for all ages (toddlers to young adults) can be made at Colvin Cleaners (2375 Elmwood Ave., Kenmore), participating Allstate Insurance agencies, Reeds Jenss locations, Valu Hardware Centers, and various bars and restaurants coordinated by the Mafia Babes. A list of drop-off locations is below and available at www.coatsforkidswny.com. Colvin Cleaners’ customers can also utilize the company's free pickup and delivery service for convenient donation pickup from their homes.

“Coats 4 Kids” is an annual program started in 1996 by Colvin Cleaners with a purpose to collect and distribute winter coats, hats, gloves, boots and scarves to children and families in need throughout Western New York. Thanks to the community's generosity, and the dedication of Colvin Cleaners and its partners, the program has provided over 200,000 coats free-of-charge to families needing winter items to help them stay warm throughout the winter months; all of them distributed through local WNY nonprofits. Learn more at https://www.coatsforkidswny.com/.

Colvin Cleaners is a 93-year-old company founded by Phil Billoni. Phil’s brothers, Tony and Santo, worked in the business for over 50 years. Tony’s son, Paul, is the company’s current president and CEO, having worked there for 47 years. His son, Christopher, presently serves as the company’s vice president, while his daughter Erica, is the director of the company’s fire restoration division. Christopher and Erica are proud third-generation members of their family’s business.

Colvin Cleaners is the only WNY drycleaners to use the environmentally friendly Green Earth cleaning solution.

It also originated and continues to run the “Gowns for Prom” philanthropic program.

For more information, visit www.colvincleaners.com, https://www.facebook.com/ColvinCleanersWNY, https://x.com/ColvinCleaners and https://www.instagram.com/colvincleaners/.

Mafia Babes is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, passionate group of female Bills fans which, each month, partners with a cause that is near and dear to Buffalo Bills player’s hearts.

The Babes was started in 2016 as a private Facebook Group organized by Buffalonian Kristen Kimmick after she hit a bit of a breaking point over the judgements and glass ceilings faced by women in sports. Kimmick added 25 like-minded women to the group and christened it “Mafia Babes.”

As women added their friends and family to the group, its rapid growth led to Kimmick recruiting Lara McKee and Leslie Wille to assist her. Over the past eight years, Mafia Babes has snowballed in membership and online presence with an X (formerly Twitter) account of 36,000 followers, and Instagram and public Facebook pages of 15,000.

Among the charities and drives its members have worked with over the past few years include Dion's Dreamers, as well as a Christmas toy drive with Buffalo Bills player Dion Dawkins; former Buffalo Bills player Micah Hyde's charity softball games at Sahlen Field; former Buffalo Bills player Jordan Poyer’s Thanksgiving meals for dialysis patients; current Buffalo Bills player Tyrel Dodson and teammates distribution of meals at Friends of Night People; QB Josh Allen's "Josh's Closet" for Oishei Children's Hospital; Oishei Children’s Hospital's "Bandwagon"; and a number of WNY organizations, including PUNT Pediatric Cancer, Kids Escaping Drugs, ECMC, Oishei Children’s Hospital, Special Olympics, The Summit Center for Autistic children, SPCA and Rooted in Love. Visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillsMafiaBabes/ and https://www.instagram.com/billsmafiababes.

2024 Valu Home Centers ‘Coats 4 Kids’ locations