NEW YORK, NY December 04, 2007 —New Yorkers are asked to donate new or gently used winter coats as the annual New York Cares coat drive kicks off today.

REPORTER: Ariel Zwang, executive director of the organization, says the thousands of outerwear donated each year help more than just the homeless.

ZWANG: It may be senior citizens living on a fixed income, people recently immigrated from hot countries, maybe refugees and people who came here with very little, victims of domestic violence.

REPORTER: Zwang says large men's coats are most needed because they can be layered. Coats may be dropped off at any police station, Penn Station, Grand Central Terminal and hundreds of other locations throughout the five boroughs.