Job Lot program provides 30k coats to veterans

Posted 1/3/18

Nearly 30,000 winter coats from Ocean State Job Lot’s “Buy, Give, Get” program are being distributed throughout New England, New York and New Jersey to help local veterans stay warm this …

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Job Lot program provides 30k coats to veterans

PYRAMID OF COATS: David Sarlitto, executive director of the Ocean State Job Lot Charitable Foundation and Ocean State Job Lot, stands in front of a display of pallets brimming with coats in Job Lot’s Distribution Center. This display represents only 10 percent of the coats being distributed to veterans in need through the “Buy, Give, Get” program. Job Lot customers generously purchased coats and then donated them to veterans organizations.

(Submitted photo)

Posted Wednesday, January 3, 2018 1:06 pm

Nearly 30,000 winter coats from Ocean State Job Lot’s “Buy, Give, Get” program are being distributed throughout New England, New York and New Jersey to help local veterans stay warm this winter season. The “Buy, Give, Get” program at the closeout discount retailer’s 129 stores in eight states spanned throughout the months of October and November. The final count exceeded the goal of 20,000 coats.

The program allowed customers to provide a brand-new, warm winter coat to a veteran in their state and throughout the region. Customers purchased a quality, brand name men’s or women’s winter coat for $40 (retail value between $80-$120), then gave it back to the store for donation to a veteran. In appreciation of the donation, customers received a $40 “Crazy Deal” Job Lot gift card.

The coats are currently being distributed to veterans organizations throughout the Northeast, in partnership with the following network of military support agencies and organizations. Locally, the agencies are Operation Stand Down Rhode Island and the Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Association.

“Once again, Job Lot customers went beyond the call,” states Marc Perlman, CEO/co-founder of Ocean State Job Lot. “The Crazy Deal cards were our way to thank customers for donating the coats, but what happened was that many customers also donated the gift cards along with the coats to veterans groups and other charities in need. Our customers’ generosity is boundless and they made this entire endeavor a huge success. We are grateful for them and very pleased to be able to help people in need throughout the region this holiday and winter season.”

Over the past 40 years since Ocean State Job Lot was founded, philanthropy has been a critical component of the company mission. In addition to military and veteran assistance, Job Lot supports food banks and pantries across the Northeast as well as the Boston Medical Center, Rhode Island Free Clinic, Amos House, The Institute for the Study and Practice of Nonviolence and more than 50 grassroots nonprofit organizations focused on hunger relief, education, health care, water purification and children’s literacy.