Last year Zero Waste Leeds ran a winter coat appeal which saw the collection and distribution of 500 coats. This year they are doing a similar scheme but are aiming to collect 2,000 coats.
Tracy Morgan the project coordinator of Zero Waste Leeds said: “Leeds City Council contacted and said we would really like to do it again but we want about 2,000 coats and they knew they would have warm hubs across Leeds and thought what a great idea to have a rail of coats in these warm hubs”.
The coats will be picked up by people who are need of coats in the upcoming winter months, and will be stationed at various warm hubs across Leeds.
The coats have been dropped off at various drop off points across Leeds over the past few weeks. Today the coats have been put into a warehouse in Leeds where volunteers have began sorting them into relevant categories.
Volunteers have come from across Leeds, many are part of businesses involved in the initiative, having drop off points stationed at their workplace. While other volunteers are people who heard about the scheme and wanted to get involved.
Abby Boon is a volunteer from a homeless society at Leeds University she said: “it’s such a great idea simultaneously diverting waste away from landfill and giving warmth to people who need it”.
Matthew Aris became a volunteer through work as his company, Sulzer Pumps, became part of the scheme he said, “it’s local and it feels like you’re doing something for Leeds”.
Zero Waste Leeds will be announcing which warm hubs will be giving out the coats at the end of the week.
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