JanineZero Waste Leeds has kicked off its annual Winter Coat Appeal, urging residents across the city to donate good-quality second-hand winter coats and clothing. With key donation points in East Leeds, the campaign aims to ensure families stay warm without the added financial strain during the colder months.
The campaign aims to collect thousands of items, ensuring people stay warm during the colder months without the financial strain of buying new.
In addition to winter coats for all ages, Zero Waste Leeds is seeking donations of other cold-weather essentials, such as hats, gloves, scarves, waterproof gear, and fleeces. This year, the social enterprise is also calling for specific items to help keep young children warm, including baby cot sleeping bags, snowsuits, and footmuffs for prams and buggies. To ensure these donations reach families in need, Zero Waste Leeds is working closely with Leeds Baby Bank, which will help distribute these essential items to parents across the city.
Last year’s appeal saw over 7,600 coats and other items distributed, saving Leeds residents more than £144,000. Tracy Morgan from Zero Waste Leeds emphasised the community spirit, saying, “Last year’s Leeds Winter Coat Appeal was a huge success thanks to the many businesses, individuals and community groups that got involved donating and distributing coats. It’s such a great way to come together as a community and share the things we have… We’d love to beat last winter’s campaign total.
“The cost of living crisis has hit families hard and priorities have had to change. Last winter, for many families in Leeds, paying bills or buying food became more important than buying a new winter coat. Sharing thousands of donated, good quality winter coats across the city meant we could help ease some of the financial pressure.
“Freeing up unworn coats from the back of cupboards and wardrobes and passing them on is also so much more sustainable than buying new and people were more than happy to help, so we’re hoping for an even more generous response from the people of Leeds this winter.”
With donation points in areas including East Leeds, residents can drop off coats, scarves, gloves, and more at places like the Compton Centre in Harehills and the Burmantofts Community Hub. Items collected will be available for free at various hubs from November through February, providing much-needed support to those facing financial challenges.
And if you are struggling to afford winter coats and essentials yourself, there are 25 collection points across Leeds where you will be able to get free winter items from 4 November 2024 until the end of February 2025.
Where to Donate: Public donation points across East Leeds include the Compton Centre (LS9), Burmantofts Community Hub (LS9), and Hunslet Community Hub (LS10). Full details are available here or on the Zero Waste Leeds website.
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