Donate your outdoor clothing and kit to help the homeless this Christmas
All I want for Christmas is – your pre-loved outdoor kit!
I’m collecting used warm clothing and sleeping bags for my local night shelter for homeless people.
It’s getting cold outside – and anyone who has ever camped outside in winter will know how bone-chillingly cold it can get in Britain – especially if you don’t have warm clothing or a sleeping bag, and have no choice but to sleep outdoors.
This winter I’m donating lots of my pre-loved outdoor gear (and plenty of kit and clothing that I’ve had sent to me for testing) to my local night shelter, Julian Trust, who need donations of warm clothing and sleeping bags to give out to those in need. Julian Trust provide first stage emergency accommodation for rough sleepers to get people off the streets, and also provide food and when possible, warm clothing and sleeping bags to those in need. I would absolutely love to bring together lots of donations to help make the streets a little bit warmer this Christmas.
If you’re an outdoors lover you might find you have a decent collection of warm winter kit. Do you have any spare bits and bobs you wouldn’t mind donating? Have a scout out for your pre-loved but clean and usable outdoors gear – this is a great excuse to clear out your kit cupboard, too, or even to donate an item if you’re getting a new version for Christmas. And what a great way to have a clear out and help keep someone warm in the winter weather?
What can I donate?
Used but clean and usable clothing and kit, especially winter coats, down jackets, warm gloves, warm hats. Used backpacks are also brilliant. The best of all are used warm sleeping bags, which are in high demand. If you need a hand with cleaning or reproofing an item, just let me know – I would still love your donations and I can spruce them up for you before donating them to a new home.
Julian Trust say: “We always need warm winter coats (ideally coats that are waterproof, windproof and hooded), and warm gloves and hats. We give out sleeping bags to those who have not secured one of our beds, and sleeping bags leave us almost as soon as they come in. Backpacks are also often asked for by those who are carrying all their possessions.”
How can I donate?
Please send your donations to my newly minted PO box, and I’ll be delivering donations straight to Julian Trust and other local shelters throughout November and December.
Warmer Streets Donations
Unit 57
42 Triangle West
Clifton
Bristol BS8 1ES
If the cost of posting your item is looking expensive please do contact me on sian.a.lewis@gmail.com and I’ll aim to help you cover any costs.
If you have a second to take a photo of you with your used kit before you pop it in the post, I’d love to share your pictures (and your good deed!) on social media. Any donation big or small is amazing, and thank you so much to everyone who has contacted me already with everything from winter coats to hand-knitted hats, it warms the cockles of my heart!
Other places to donate your clothing gear
If you’d rather support your own local shelter or drop items off locally, try Ellis Brigham‘s excellent 2nd Life initiative, which allows you to donate used outdoor clothing in six of their stores in London, Manchester and Scotland.
Thank you so much! Let’s make the streets a little warmer this winter.
