MARION, OH (MARION COUNTY NOW)—Pillar Credit Union is stepping in to ensure Marion’s longtime “Coats for Christmas” drive continues this winter after learning the annual event was not scheduled to return in 2026.
Speaking on the “Community Spotlight” podcast, Pillar Credit Union representative Daniel Bradshaw said the organization decided to take over the initiative after sponsoring and volunteering for the drive for more than a decade.
“We know the kind of impact that has for people in our community,” Bradshaw said. “Even if we can’t carry that on in the same size and scale that maybe it’s been in previous years for this year, we still want to do something.”
Pillar Credit Union is accepting donations of new and gently used coats, as well as new hats and gloves—with a strong need for youth sizes—at its Marion branch at 300 Barks Road East. Monetary donations are also being accepted to purchase winter gear. Distribution is tentatively slated for the second Saturday in December, with updates posted at coatsforchristmas.com.
During the broadcast, Bradshaw also outlined financial tools to help residents manage seasonal expenses. For immediate needs, the credit union offers a 12-month fixed-rate holiday loan special starting at 9.99% APR, subject to credit approval. For those planning for 2027, Bradshaw recommended free, no-penalty Christmas Club savings accounts with automatic weekly transfers.
More information on holiday financial guides is available at pillarcu.com.