Before it was Fill the BellThe Clothe-A-Child and Mile of Dimes originally began in 1930. By 1946, Indianapolis firefighters would stand watch 24 hours a day for the entire month of December.
Each Christmas EveThe long lines of silver coins would be swept up and used to purchase clothing for needy children in the annual Clothe-A-Child campaign.
1946-1959 The Glory DaysOn December 24, 1946, the Mile-O-Dimes had accumulated 60 rows of dimes, each 88 feet long, totaling 5,280 feet, a full mile, for the first time in the program's history
1933
First year of the Clothe-A-Child Program
1,912
Total length (in ft.) of dimes first year
3,208
Actually it was $3,207.55 collected in 1933