Clear out your closets and help keep someone warm this winter with a donation of gently used winter clothing that you can drop off on Dec. 8 from 10am to 3:30pm at Vari Hall.
Organized by York University’s Human Resources (HR) Department, the clothing drive will collect gently used clothing for men, women and youth 18 years and older in need, and is seeking donations of winter coats, boots, hats, toques, scarves, gloves, mittens and blankets.
The goal is to collect 1,000 items of gently used coats and winter boots; last year’s drive saw a total of 766 items donated.
Organizers will also collect new items for men, and says the greatest need is for socks, undergarments and leg warmers.
The effort will also collect clothes and shoes of all kinds to support Soles4Soul – a not-for-profit global enterprise that distributes shoes and clothing, internationally, to those in need.
The campaign will distribute winter coats, clothing and boots to the homeless and to the women’s shelter in Toronto. The remaining items are shipped to Soles4Souls for their distribution purposes.
The annual used winter clothing drive previously had no budget, and was voluntarily produced by students and event organizers. This year, York University’s HR Department takes the lead in organizing; however, volunteers are still needed.
Volunteer opportunities
Organizers are seeking volunteers to assist with greeting, donation take-in, donation sorting and more. The day will be divided into hourly slots/sessions from 9:30am to 4:30pm, and each hour-long session requires a team of five volunteers. The peak time is from 11:30am to 2:30pm.
Those who are able to volunteer should email Kalpana Bilimoria at kbilimor@yorku.ca with your name and the times you are available to assist. Please ensure you have your manager’s approval prior to volunteering.
Additional drop-off hours
There will be an additional opportunity to drop off donations in a box in the lobby of the Kinsmen Building from 8:30am to 4:30pm, Dec. 9 to 11.