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Home / Programs / Basic Needs / Coats for Kids & Families
Coats for Kids & Families is officially underway as the program aims to ensure families and individuals with limited resources have access to the proper winter outerwear needed for our cold Edmonton and area winters.
United Way of the Alberta Capital Region started the Coats for Kids & Families initiative in 1992 in response to an overwhelming need for winter wear by people in our community. Many local individuals and families simply don’t have the means to purchase the clothing needed to stay warm during Alberta’s harsh winters. The annual Coats for Kids & Families collection campaign runs from October through February. Once collected, the items are brought to United Way’s InKind Exchange where groups of volunteers sort and package the coats to be delivered to social agencies that distribute the items to the people who need them. In 2023, through our community partners, we distributed over 7,280 winter outwear items to those in need in our community and this year, we're anticipating an even greater need.
Coats may be dropped off at one of the many drop off locations around the region, including City of Edmonton facilities, or at United Way’s InKind Exchange by appointment only, call 780-990-1000. Find a drop-off location that’s near you. New locations will be added as businesses or organizations are officially signed up.
Interested in becoming a drop-off site? Sign up today!
Help us reach our goal of collecting 10,000 coats for individuals and families in the Edmonton region.
Accepted items include:
Items NOT accepted: Non-winter clothing and outerwear.
We accept clean, gently used, outgrown or new winter outerwear for adults and children. Monetary donations are also accepted and used to purchase coats to meet specific agency requests or to fill shortfalls in certain sizing.
If you need a coat, please call 211 or call 780-482-4636 (INFO) to find an agency distribution depot near you. Coats are not distributed by United Way directly to the public; all coats are distributed through various community agencies in the greater Edmonton Area.
Get involved! Rally your co-workers, community organization, church group, or friends to host a collection drive to collect as many new or gently used coats and outerwear items as possible. The Coats for Kids & Families collection campaign runs from October through February.
Get winter outerwear to those who need it most. Frontline agencies serving clients in need across the Alberta Capital Region are invited to be a drop-off site.
208 collection sites were setup across the Alberta Capital Region.
Over 7,280 coats and winter items were sorted, counted, and bagged for distribution by 178 volunteers.
49 organizations and schools received and distributed coats to people in need.
Interested in hosting a product drive? Register today! Once you're signed up, utilize the resources kit to help spread the word about your product drive across your networks.
Share your time by sorting coats and outerwear at United Way’s InKind Exchange between October and January each year. Please contact us at [email protected] or 780-990-1000 to volunteer. Volunteer sessions must be booked in advance.
