Holiday Donations and Drives
9th Annual Coats for Kids Coat Drive
October 1st-November 2nd, 2026
The Steet Ponte Auto Group is holding our 9th Annual "Coats for Kids" Coat and Winter Clothing Drive! We are collecting donations of NEW winter outerwear like coats, snow pants, hats, gloves, scarves and snow boots in any kids sizes for Utica, Rome, Herkimer, CVA, Frankfort, Johnstown and Fonda Elementary Schools! Donations will be accepted during normal business hours. In 2025, we collected a record breaking 1,425 items, including 444 winter coats, and the rest in snow pants, hats, gloves, scarves and snow boots!
"We started this Coat Drive in response to our now, 18th annual Holiday Toy Drive. Year after year, we were getting overwhelming requests for winter coats and snow pants instead of toys. Finally, in 2018, we decided to create the Coats for Kids Coat Drive, so our local children in need are ready for the winter weather. Our children completely took this and ran with it, in 2022, we donated 675 articles of winter clothes, in 2023, over 900, and in 2024 a record breaking 1,000+!'' Joe Steet Sr. stated.
14th Annual Steet Ponte Auto Group Thanksgiving Food Drive
November 3rd-November 23rd, 2026
We are holding our 14th Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive, and collecting non perishable food items for the Hope House in Utica and the Frankfort-Ilion Food Pantry out of Catholic Charities of Herkimer County. In 2025, we collected a record breaking 4,000 items from all of our stores, help us provide a warm holiday season for our neighbors in need!
"My brother and I started the food drive as a way to give back to our community during the Thanksgiving season. It has grown immensely, from our first year of filling up one vehicle, to now over 2,000 items being donated in 10 vehicles! These organizations do so much to revitalize the area and help our community members in need; we are so happy we could help in this way,'' Carly Steet Mathias stated.
As a family owned and operated business, the Steet and Ponte Families know how important it is to help our communities, especially during the holidays. Thank you to all who continue to help our Food Drive succeed year after year!
19th Annual Holiday Giving Tree
November 25th-December 15th, 2026
For the past 19 years we've donated to different local schools and organizations to help put a smile on the faces of our local kids in need. This year, we are adopting families through the Neighborhood Center within Oneida and Herkimer Counties, as well as Amsterdam and Gloversville Schools! Take a tag from one of our Giving Trees located in each showroom, purchase the wish listed on there and return the unwrapped gift back to our tree with the tag attached. Last year, we were able to donate 619 gifts for those in need during holiday season. Please help us again to make the holidays a little brighter for those in need!
Through these wonderful non-profit organizations, we are able to directly support families in need of gifts for their children this holiday season throughout Oneida, Herkimer, and Fulton Counties. Thank you for helping spread the joy and make the holidays a little brighter for families in need in our area this year!
Thank You For Your Support!
