Just before the huge blizzard hit New York City and other major areas along the East Coast this past weekend, the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association coordinated an effort to deliver more than 6,000 winter coats as part of the New York Cares Winter Coat Drive.

This past Thursday prior to when close to two feet of snow blanketed the area, the coats were delivered to New York Cares distribution center at West 31 St. in Manhattan.

New York Cares executive director Gary Bagley was on hand to receive the coats from Mark Schienberg, president of GNYADA, whose organization coordinated the collection through the association’s dealer network.

“New-car dealers have always had a strong sense of community and our relationship with New York Cares is no exception,” Schienberg said.

“Thanks to this spirit of helping others, GNYADA was able to present New York Cares with 6,000 coats that will be given to those in need,” he continued.

“The coats were collected by 100 dealers and thanks to their generosity, and that of their customers and staff, the total number of coats collected by the association over the past four years now tops 25,000,” Schienberg added.

“That says an enormous amount about auto dealers in greater New York, and I am very proud of them all,” he went on to say.

The charity organization pointed out thousands of New Yorkers will be forced to make a choice this winter between buying a warm coat and putting food on the table, heating their homes, or meeting other basic survival needs. That’s why for the last 27 years, New York Cares has collected and distributed winter coats to thousands of men, women and children who would otherwise go cold.

For more details about the organization, go to www.newyorkcares.org.