Winter officially begins on Dec. 21, but a coat drive for kids is underway as some children in the Turlock area need a coat or jacket.

Community organizations around Turlock are doing their best to help children enjoy their holidays and bear the winter weather. Westside Ministries is holding its annual coat drive, Coats 4 Kids.

As lower winter temperatures become the norm throughout the coming months, coats and jackets become a more common need for people in the community. Westside Ministries is looking for donations of new or used coats and jackets in all sizes for kids.

Jackets and coats are distributed to the South Valley, with kids from Keyes to Delhi and Denair to Crows Landing benefitting from the contributions.

A Coats 4 Kids GoFundMe page has been set up for the organization to receive monetary contributions as well. Their $5,000 goal is geared toward buying coats if more are needed than donated and providing hot meals to every family that comes to the coat drive event held Dec. 14-16.

New coats can be dropped of at Westside Ministries located at 950 Columbia Street, and used coats can be dropped off at Carr’s Cleaners at 500 East Main Street.

According to the Westside Ministries Facebook page, over 1,000 kids were helped and this year the organization is expected to serve over 1,200 kids.

Coats are still needed and one post on the page states specifically, “Desperately need size 7/8 children's size jackets.”

Through schools and other referrals, children are given tickets to the free event.

The Westside Ministries’ Coats 4 Kids includes dinners, haircuts, toys, and of course, coats, and takes place Dec. 14-16.

Westside Ministries is located at 950 Columbia in Turlock.

For more information for either making a donation or referring a child in need, call 209-667-8593.