SANDPOINT — As the days get colder and a blanket of snow covers the surrounding mountains, Coats 4 Kids is collecting items that will keep youngsters, and adults, warm for the winter.

"We are all about sharing the warmth," said Karen Battenschlag, area event organizer with Coats 4 Kids sponsor Tomlinson Sotheby's International Realty.

Coats 4 Kids is a great way to recycle coats, Battenschlag said, adding that it is also an easy and fun way to recycle them.

Battenschlag said Coats 4 Kids accepts coats, winter hats, gloves and scarves and boots of all sizes, infant through adult. Since donations started coming in on Sept. 9, she said they have collected more adult coats than kids coats. She said the goal is to collect as many coats as possible, but the inventory this year is "way down."

Gently used and new items are always welcome, as are monetary donations. Battenschlag said $5, $10 or $20 dollars helps to buy a new coat. Last year for example, $1,000 in donations bought 75 new coats for kids.

"A little bit of money can go a long way," she said.

Nu-Way Cleaners in Sandpoint has been "awesome," she said, in cleaning the used coats prior to distribution.

Coats and other winter items will be collected until Oct. 31. Donation boxes are set up at 36 locations in the area, including all elementary schools, Sandpoint middle school and high school, Thorne Research, Quest Aircraft, Litehouse Foods, churches and most of the banks around town.

The local event night for distribution with KXLY is scheduled from 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 26 at the Bonner Mall. KXLY will host the evening weather from the Bonner Mall and anyone who brings in a coat that evening will be entered into a drawing for a pair of Seattle Seahawks tickets.

Distribution will begin Oct. 17 at the Bonner Mall where Battenschlag said anyone can come by during regular mall hours and get a coat. Distribution will continue until Nov. 11 or when the coats are gone.

"It's just an awesome feeling to see a child look around and try to find a coat in a color or size that works for them, and when it works for them their little eyes light up," she said. "It just makes it all worthwhile."

Coats 4 Kids was started by KXLY 31 years ago, Battenschlag said. Three years ago Battenschlag discovered a second coat campaign taking place at the Bonner Mall and Yokes, and with the goal of expanding Coats 4 Kids and creating community partners, the two coat campaigns merged under the Coats 4 Kids drive.

"I want to thank the community of Bonner County; they've always risen to the occasion and have been great support in the previous years," Battenschlag said. "I look forward to them supporting us again this year."