The annual coat drive, sponsored by Masconomo Council 1232, Knights of Columbus, Manchester by the Sea, is in full swing from now until Thanksgiving week, Monday, November 24^th.

Winter coats clean and in good condition, new and gently worn, for infants, children, teens, women, and men will be gratefully accepted. Coats will be collected at both Manchester and Essex churches -Sacred Heart and St John the Baptist.

In Manchester at Sacred Heart church, coats may be left on racks at the rear of the church when Masses are scheduled. Coats may also be left in the Sacred Heart garage on Burnham Lane. There will be a coat rack with a “Knights of Columbus Coat Drive” sign on it and coats can be left there any time, 24 / 7.

In Essex, coats will be collected on a rack located in the rear of St John the Baptist church, so those can only be collected when Mass is scheduled and the church is open.

Coats will be collected through the weekend preceding Thanksgiving. All coats will be donated to Beverly Bootstraps and Catholic Charities to benefit local neighbors in need on Cape Ann and the North Shore.

In 2023 200 coats were donated in the coat drive at Visitation parish – Manchester by the Sea-Sacred Heart church, and Essex-St John the Baptist. We hope to exceed that number this year as the need is great and winter is just around the corner.