After a month-and-a-half-long drive, Amica Mutual Insurance Co. and the Newport Yachting Center were able to present more than 200 coats to the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center of Newport.

The coats were collected through the Amica Insurance Coat Drive, which was held from Dec. 7 to Jan. 27 at the Newport Skating Center.

Coats were first distributed to the community center’s breakfast-program clients, many of whom are homeless. Other donations were then given to clients of the Feed A Friend Food Pantry, and to children in the center’s educational program who had outgrown their coats.

“Many of our clients have had a tough year,” said Marilyn Warren, executive director of the community center. “The price of basic essentials such as food, gas and utilities has risen dramatically as many of our clients have found themselves either losing their jobs or having their hours cut back at work. This donation of coats has allowed them to use the money they would have had to spend on a warm winter coat on another basic need.” •