33rd Annual John Dodge Coat Drive: A Bedford Tradition Continues on Saturday

With his walker behind him, John Dodge collected coats along The Great Road in 2015 – Image (c) JMcCT, 2015 all rights reserved

By Julie McCay Turner

Family members with just some of the coats collected in 2016 – Image (c) JMcCT, 2016 all rights reserved – Click to view larger image

The 33rd Annual John Dodge Coat Drive will take place from 8 am until dusk on Saturday, November 4 in front of the Bedford Funeral Home, 167 The Great Road, opposite the Bedford Marketplace.

The late John Dodge’s commitment to gathering clean, gently-used coats, hats, scarves, and gloves for the homeless men and women served by St. Francis House in Boston is the stuff of legend.

John died at age 93, and his family stepped in to keep the Coat Drive alive in his memory.

John’s family (and his familiar signs!) will be waiting to greet you again this Saturday, and St. Francis House will make the most of your donations, sharing your clean, gently-used winter clothing with their clients.

Bedford TV filmed John Dodge at age 90 during his 2013 Coat Drive