Holiday Coat Donations Warm The Soul, Help Those In Need

DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - Acts of kindness have caught on in Dallas' Design District.

Coat racks and signs have popped up at various businesses stating: "If you need one; take one. If you want to give, drop one off."

Emilia Flores, owner of The Taco Stop on Irving Blvd. northwest of downtown Dallas, started asking for coat donations in front of her restaurant last winter.

"I think people are hungry for ways to be kind and generous," said Flores. "I didn't know if it would catch on but it has."

This year, Taco Stop inspired a couple other nearby businesses to do the same.

Trainer at Power House Gym, Jessica Garcia, said that clients will drop off donated coats outside and then come indoors to work out.

"It's such a small gesture to us but it is something that can be the biggest thing and the thing that somebody needed that day," said Garcia.

Noble Brewery also has a donation site at the front of the business and they plan to keep open through the winter.