Parents who are in need of a coat for themselves or for their children can now get one for free thanks to an Alden Scouts Coat Drive at American Bank.

Ann Bryson, Alden Cub Scouts master, said the scouts started collecting coats at the beginning of the month and then started distributing them Feb. 9.

Girl Scout leader Nancy Kuethe put on a coat drive in Alden in the fall with the Cadettes, and when that was completed, Bryson said, she thought it was important to look for a more permanent location to continue the drive.

“We saw there was a need out there,” Bryson said. “The economy’s hitting families.”

American Bank offered to let the group use its former board room for the coats, and Shopko donated three racks to hang them on, she said. There are coats for men, women and children, along with snowpants, hats and mittens.

When families come in to pick up a coat or other winter accessory, they are also given information on area resources available for families, including food banks and intervention agencies, Bryson said.

“Otherwise it’s kind of overwhelming when you get hit with hard times, where do you go?” she said.

The coat drive teaches Scouts the importance of helping families in the community, which is one of the key purposes of scouting.

Bryson said donations have been “wonderful” so far, and next year the group is considering having a coat drive location at the Alden-Conger School.

Coats are available for pickup or donation during the bank’s regular hours from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Fridays. They will be available through March 20.

The community service continues next month as the Scouts will be conducting their annual Scouting for Food. Toward the beginning of the month, people can expect to receive a note on their doors from Scouts to let them know they will return a week later to collect donations for local food banks.

In Alden, Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts meet the second Tuesday of every month at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Weblos meet at Alden-Conger School on Mondays after school, and Boy Scouts meet every Monday evening at the Alden American Legion.