Polk County Plans Winter Coat Giveaway for Veterans
Polk County Veterans Affairs will distribute free winter clothing to veterans and their families on Friday, November 13, 2026, in Des Moines.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Philanthropy
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Polk County Veterans Affairs will host its annual winter coat giveaway on Friday, November 13, 2026, offering free coats, hats, and gloves to veterans and their families. The event, held at 2309 Euclid Ave. in Des Moines, has run for seven years.
Why it matters
The giveaway began after the office recognized that some veterans and their families were not prepared for the winter months. It gives Des Moines-area veterans a direct way to obtain cold-weather clothing before the season sets in.
Polk County's Board of Supervisors provides $10,000 each year to buy winter clothing for the giveaway. This year's event includes more than 435 coats and more than 320 hats and gloves in a range of sizes, though the number of recipients expected was not stated.
The players
Polk County Veterans Affairs
The county office that administers veterans' services and runs the annual winter clothing giveaway for veterans and their families in Polk County, Iowa.
Polk County Board of Supervisors
The five-member governing body of Polk County, Iowa, which funds the giveaway with $10,000 in annual clothing purchases.
The details
Veterans have first access from 9 a.m. to noon Friday, and the event opens to the public from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Veterans must bring documentation verifying their status to receive items. The giveaway takes place in Conference Room 3-3A at 2309 Euclid Ave.
Timeline
Seven years: The coat giveaway has been held annually for seven years.
Friday, November 13, 2026, 9 a.m. to noon: Veterans-only first access.
Friday, November 13, 2026, 1 to 2:30 p.m.: Public access.
Community Context
Local government funding of veterans' cold-weather aid, such as Polk County's annual $10,000 allocation, is a recurring form of targeted county assistance in Iowa. The program's seven-year run places it among sustained county-level efforts to address seasonal need among veterans.
Eligible veterans and their families can obtain free coats, hats, and gloves at the giveaway by bringing documentation of veteran status. The public session from 1 to 2:30 p.m. is open to anyone else in the community who wants to attend.
The takeaway
Veterans planning to attend should bring documentation verifying their status and arrive during the 9 a.m. to noon window to receive items first. Plan a visit before the first-access period ends if you need cold-weather clothing.
What happens next
The veterans-only first-access window runs Friday, November 13, 2026, from 9 a.m. to noon, followed by public access from 1 to 2:30 p.m.
Further reading
Explore more philanthropy stories covering charitable giving and community aid programs in Des Moines.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Who13.
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