Dayton Kids Have Gotten 500K Coats Thanks To WDTN’s 37-Year Campaign

The one constant about local television is change.

It’s not unusual for TV stations to undergo change from the moment they begin broadcasting. Its call letters may change; its network affiliation may change and thus, its entertainment programming, shifts; certainly ownership changes often over the years, and along with that, station management and personnel.

WDTN Dayton, Ohio, has experienced much of that since it went on the air in 1949.

But for the past 37 years, since 1983, one thing that hasn’t changed at WDTN is a community campaign called Coats for Kids.

And since its inception, Coats for Kids has collected and distributed more than 500,000 garments and winter accessories to less fortunate children and adults throughout the area.

To get some perspective on the impact 500,000 coats can have for kids in Dayton, the city’s population in 2018 was about 180,000.

WDTN (NBC) and WBDT (CW), kicked off this year’s campaign in September that will run until Oct. 23.

WDTN is owned by Nexstar, which operates WBDT under a local marketing agreement with owner Vaughan Media.

This year’s Coats for Kids campaign is sponsored by LCNB National Bank and Catholic Social Services. In-kind partners include Cintas Corp. and RUSH Transportation and Logistics.

The campaign once again asks residents of the region to take any new or washable coat that they or their children may have outgrown or winter accessory to any sponsor location and place them in the Coats for Kids collection barrel.

Cintas will then launder the coats and RUSH Transportation and Logistics will transport them, both at no charge.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, distribution of the coats and winter accessories will look different this year. Distribution will take place in early November with details being announced in the coming weeks.

“This has been a difficult year for many in the Miami Valley and we know the need for coats and winter accessories could be greater than ever,” said Joe Abouzeid, WDTN’s general manager.

“We’re proud to work with our partners to get these coats in the hands of those in need even during these difficult times.”

WRAL-TV and FOX 50,  part of the broadcast arm of Capitol Broadcasting Company (CBC) in Raleigh, NC,  (DMA 27) has an immediate opening for a News Engagement Editor, a dynamic, passionate and experienced content creator to motivate, teach and lead its efforts across digital platforms, with a focus on social media. The Engagement Editor will help coach and support our talent teams on multiple platforms, relying on analytics to guide tactics with an eye toward using headlines, video, images and copy that drive longer and more frequent visits and social interactions. Click here for more specifics and how to apply.