Wrap Up London are once again collecting coats this week, up until Saturday 14th November. It gets bigger every year, and in 2019 there were 27,000 coats donated, which were given to over 100 charities. I'm not involved in this organisation, I just think it's brilliant and wanted people to know.
The coats aren't given to charity shops - they are sorted through in a warehouse, and then distributed directly to places like homeless shelters, women's shelters, refugee centres and so on. They accept coats for men and women, children and babies, and also dog coats.
From their website: "This year, Wrap Up London will look a little different due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but is needed now more than ever. The main coat collection will take place in Safestore locations across London between 9th – 14th November. The collection spaces are Covid-19 safe and have track and trace in place. We ask donors to wear their masks when donating coats and also maintain social distancing. Donors can drop their coats to the coat collection points whilst out exercising, on the school run, or on the way to do an essential shop."
In previous years they've collected the coats at tube stations, but this year all the collection points are at storage facilities, which can be seen here: www.handsonlondon.org.uk/wrap-uplondon/
The locations seem to be mainly in zones 1 and 2, however if you can't get there, you can also create a postage label at www.collectplus.yodel.co.uk/tedbakerwrapup?int_cmpid=Wrap-up_lp_cta1 and drop off a parcel at your nearest CollectPlus location.
Just to reiterate, I don't work for them - I just think it's such a great thing, which helps people in need and helps us get rid of unwanted items from our homes. I know it's going to be a lot more difficult to donate this year, and not everyone will be able to do, but I just wanted to put it out there.