FARMINGTON — Franklin Savings Bank delivered about 160 coats and dozens of hats, mittens and snow pants to the Salvation Army as part of the Coats for Kids drive in December.

“We asked for gently used coats but many of our customers contributed brand new coats, tags and all. We also received contributions of new fleece and handmade hats and mittens. It is very moving to find such heart-felt gifts in our boxes,” said Anna Lyon, marketing director at Franklin Savings Bank, who coordinates the event for the bank.

“A full 75 percent of those coats came from our Rangeley branch. The crew there collects them year-round,” said Lyon. “They are a force to be reckoned with.”

Franklin Savings Bank ranked fourth in the state among participating banks in Maine for coat collection. Maine Bankers Association member banks brought in more than 1,400 coats as well as boots, snow pants, scarves, mittens and hats.

In the Coats for Kids program, coats are donated to the Salvation Army, which turns them over to Pratt-Abbott Cleaners in Portland to be cleaned and prepared for their new owners. After the coats are prepared, they return to the Salvation Army for distribution.

Although there are no Salvation Army stores in Franklin Savings Bank’s business area, the coats return to the area by way of local Salvation Army representatives who work through agencies such as Western Maine Community Action.

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