The Leith Collective have said that the demand for their winter coat rack is through the roof after they shifted 500 jackets in just 10 days.
The charity organisation, which is based at Ocean Terminal, Fort Kinnaird and the St Enoch centre in Glasgow, offers a coat rack service that supplies free winter coats or the opportunity to exchange a jacket. A number of those using the rack this year are the elderly who are struggling to heat their homes or young children that are growing quickly.
Organisers and volunteers at the charity say that other organisations are referring people to their racks. They add that elderly people are taking multiple coats as they cannot afford to heat their homes.
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Last year, over the entirety of winter, they supplied 700 coats to those that needed them but this year they say they are inundated with those that rely on their services. The idea came to fruition after a volunteer at the Ocean Terminal base found that her two sons' perfectly good winter jackets could find a new home.
It was decided that they would try to acquire coats that people had outgrown or no longer needed so that those who were struggling to make ends meet could either exchange or pick up a new item of clothing.
They say that the increase in demand for their service shows that the stigma of asking for help is lessening as the cost of living crisis worsens. However they worry that demand may soon outstrip supply.
A spokesperson for the charity said: “We have now gone through just over 500 coats since October 1 this year - it has smashed all expectations we had. The first year we did this we went through 400 coats all year - and the second year it was 700 coats.
“So this year I can only imagine how many we will go through and how many people we will help. We have a lot of families who are thankful as they can’t afford coats this year and this has been a huge help to them.
“I have had people being sent to us via charities who have no winter clothing at all and the organisations have no funding available this year to supply it. I have elderly people who are coming and taking two coats, one for the house, and one for outside as they are scared to put the heating on.
“We also have people who just want to live more sustainably and are just swapping old coats for new ones. The stigma is completely changing.
“We don’t have a referral system and we don’t ask any questions so people don’t feel like they have to justify the reasons for taking a coat. It’s bringing us back to that community spirit we had years ago.
“The more we can do together, the better we are able to face the challenges ahead. The response has also been amazing - everyone has said what a brilliant idea it is.”
They continued to say that many have to use the service as coats are even too expensive in charity shops. They added: “We are in need of childrens coats, warm mens coats and womens coats. We are also now taking hats, scarfs and gloves
“If people can please share with friends and family that we need donations and also that we are here, then it would be greatly appreciated.
“We are so thankful for the many people that have donated to us so far. This has helped so many people and I am very proud that we have managed to make a small difference in changing stigmas about reusing.”
Anyone wishing to donate can do so at their centres at Ocean Terminal, Fort Kinnaird and Glasgow’s St Enoch. You can find out more about what they do and how to help via their Facebook by clicking here.
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