Kensington, Can You Spare a Winter Coat?

Calling all gently used coats, jackets, scarves, hats, and mittens. Hair Cuttery salons across the Washington metro area are collecting cold weather gear for Krausey's Koats, a national effort to ensure those in need stay warm this winter.

, a division of Ratner Companies, partnered with the Krausey's Koats campaign in 2010 in the Philadelphia area and successfully collected 6,500 coats, according to a Ratner Companies media release.

"This year," said Dennis Ratner, Hair Cuttery founder and CEO, "with the expansion of the program into other regions of the country, we hope to collect even more cold-weather clothing for those in need. That would certainly make it a merrier holdiay for all of us."

Krausey's Koats was started by Joe Krause, a Philadelphia radio personality, with the support of the IBEW Local 98 six years ago.

So check your closets, basement, garage, or attic to see if you have a unused or unloved coat, hat and/or gloves that you can part with and donate to this holiday campaign.

Donations can be dropped off at the Hair Cuttery located at 3731 University Blvd. in Kensington or at any Hair Cuttery location during regular business hours through Jan. 1, 2012. All donations will be delivered to local missions, homeless shelters and nonprofits such as the Salvation Army.