Kettering Health has partnered with Coats for a Cure, a local nonprofit dedicated to providing warm clothing to Miami Valley patients in need, to open the system’s second winter clothing donation center. The new Care Closet at Soin Medical Center opened earlier this week with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.  

Coats for a Cure was founded by Kettering Health oncology radiologists Jessica Schwab, Zach Gregus, and Crystal Bullock after they noticed many patients were coming in for care without proper winter clothing. The trio opened the first Care Closet at Kettering Health Main Campus earlier this month and hope to soon have Care Closets established in hospitals across the Miami Valley.  

“As it got colder, we noticed patients coming in without the resources they needed, 
said Jessica. “Even though we’re treating the physical body, we have a responsibility to treat the whole person. If it’s minus 10 degrees outside, we’re not sending someone out in a T-shirt.”  

Each closet is stocked with warm clothing that hospital staff can access immediately for any patient facing hardship. Items include coats, blankets, hats, gloves, scarves, warming kits, and other needed essentials. 

Visitors to Soin Medical Center can donate new or gently used winter clothing. Monetary donations can be made on the Coats for a Cure online donation portal. All funds go toward restocking and creating new closets.