has anyone "hosted" a coat drive?

**chevy_chick95** · 11-25-2009, 02:16 AM

i'm helping my mom move, while cleaning out 16 years of living in one home i've come across 20+ winter coats that no longer fit anyone we know. i decided i wanted to donate them, but not to someplace that would sell them, just to be given to who needs them in my area. idaho is cold!

i really feel like that if people want to donate a coat, they should be able to. not have to donate it for a profit to someone else. let me also add that i regularly donate to those kind of organizations and shop there as well, but this is a little different, i believe. not everyone can buy a coat, and they should be able to get one, for free.

so i searched online, google, local news stations, everything in my area. i can't seem to find anything except the macy's coat drive, and like i said i would really prefer them to benefit people in my area. So in my searching i found One Warm Coat website. they help you set up a coat drive in your area. Send you banners, signs, list your drive on their website, etc. They have some great and helpful information. I am really considering doing this.

i'm just wondering if anyone has ever done this? looking for some tips to get the best turn out, etc. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks

**justpeachy92** · 11-25-2009, 07:43 AM

Check with your local foodbank. I know the ones in the area of Pennsylvania I grew up in would accept items like shoes, coats, hats and gloves. The stuff was offered for free to those who needed them.

**justpeachy92** · 11-25-2009, 07:44 AM

Also if any of the coats would fit children, you could call the local school. The office and teachers would know if any of the students could use a winter coat.

**ktsmama** · 11-25-2009, 09:40 AM

You could also check with a woman's shelter or a children's run away shelter if there are any in your area.

**TeganZ** · 11-25-2009, 10:31 AM

No, but this is something I have always been interested in!

**chevy_chick95** · 11-26-2009, 12:18 PM

I found the local shelters ( woman, kids and mens) and they will accept them. I never thought about schools that's a great idea!

**craftypam** · 11-26-2009, 12:49 PM

I haven't done it or heard of it, but feel the same way you do. I want to give the coats to someone who needs them and not give them to someone else to sell and then spend the money where they want to. The library has homeless people in there during business hours to keep warm; I want to walk up to them and give them a coat. I'm not sure how they would take that. Let me know if you do it and how it turned out.

Thanks

Happy Thanksgiving

Great Idea Justpeachy

**rictor** · 11-26-2009, 04:12 PM

There are a lot of coat drives where the coats go straight to people. Or give them to a local homeless shelter.

**ladytoysdream** · 11-26-2009, 09:29 PM

There is 2 churches in our area that have a room set up for clothing so people can get what they need. Free. They do limit some items especially the childrens because they don't get a lot of them. I take donations in whenever I can. I sometimes find free clothing at garage sales. Take them home, wash them, and then donate.

Maybe you can give them away via craigslist or freecycle ?

Do you have a women's shelter close by ? YWCA ?
Senior center ?

**chevy_chick95** · 11-27-2009, 02:10 PM

Rictor- do you have the names of them? I searced my area and no one is having a coat drive that I can find.

Thank you for all the advice. I think I figured out how to organize it to get it started. Now I just need to fill out all the forms