The Southeastern Pennsylvania Soccer Hall of Fame, as part of its mission to “Build the Future,” is continuing its successful “Coats for Chester Program” for the seventh-straight year. The city of Chester, Pa. is the site of a lot of excitement in the Philadelphia area by playing host to our Major League Soccer team, Philadelphia Union. At the same time, however, Chester holds the distinction of being the poorest city in Pennsylvania.

The SEPA Soccer Hall of Fame is committed to do its part to mobilize the soccer community in helping those in need in Chester. In the first six years of our collection program, 9,255 coats have been collected and distributed.

How the program works

For two months this fall, from October 1 to November 30, donated winter coats will be collected throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania. In early December the coats will be delivered to social service organizations in Chester who will distribute them to needy families there. Members of the SEPA Soccer Hall of Fame, along with volunteers from various soccer organizations, will be handling the collecting and distributing of the coats.

How you can participate

Just gather any winter coats (infant, child or adult) that you will no longer be using. Then take those coats to the drop-off site listed below that is closest to you and we will do the rest.

You can also drop off coats at a Philadelphia Union game in October, on Sunday, October 16 when the Union host Orlando City, and on Sunday, October 23 when the team hosts New York Red Bulls in the regular season finale. Look for the SEPA Soccer Hall of Fame tent on Toyota Plaza

If your organization would like to be a collection site, contact SEPA Soccer Hall of Fame by email at info@sepasoccerhall.com.

Coats for Chester drop-off locations

Tri-State Soccer Supplies/N.E. Philadelphia
3354 Grant Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19114

Father Judge High School, Student Services Office
3301 Solly Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19136

Starfinder Foundation
4015 Main St., Philadelphia, PA 19127

Watertower Recreation Center
209 E. Hartwell Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19118

Holy Family University Men’s Soccer Team
9810 Frankford Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19114

Philadelphia Academy Charter High School
1700 Tomlinson Rd., Philadelphia, PA 19116

Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer
4070 Butler Pike, Suite 100, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462

Villa Capri Ristorante
51 W. Court Street, Doylestown, PA 18901

Dominic’s & the Side Door Pub
3337 County Line Rd., Chalfont, PA 8914

YSC Sports
224 County Line Road, Wayne, PA 19087

The following organizations are also participating with special event collections:

Sons of Ben
Council Rock United Soccer Associations
Glenmoore Eagle Youth Association, Upper Uwchlan Township Fellowship Fields
Catholic Social Services, St. Bernard School, Northeast Philadelphia
St. Thomas Aquinas Church Seton Seniors Club, Croydon, Pa.
Vereinigung Erzgebirge Soccer Club U-15 Boys team, Warminster, Pa.

Please help spread the word to family and friends, so that our coat drive will be a success and make life a little bit better for some families in Chester.