Free Coat Exchange

The idea is an exchange amongst community: those who can, donate a coat; those who need, take a coat.  You don't need to go out and buy a new coat to donate-- just look in your closet.  If you need a coat, you take one with no questions asked.  There is no registration and no qualification process.  It is very simple.

The first annual Buy Nothing Day Coat Drive in Louisville was held Friday, November 26^th, 2010, from 10a-2p.  Traditionally one of the biggest retail spending days of the year, the Coat Exchange encourages a different kind of exchange on Black Friday.

The idea for the Coat Exchange in Louisville was originated by Ted Loebenberg of Brokers Unlimited Inc Professional Auctioneers.  Ted coordinated several years of successful coat drives in his native Rhode Island and decided to bring the initiative to Louisville in 2010.  The Louisville location was hosted and co-coordinated by the The Green Building.  The Rotary Club of Radcliff, KY also hosted an exchange location in 2010.

In total, the two locations collected and gave away over 800 for the inaugural exchange.  In future years we hope to expand the Coat Exchange to more locations in Louisville and surrounding areas.