Peterborough-area residents can help kick off the annual Coats for Community campaign by dropping off winter essentials for those in need from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday to Saturday (October 16 to 18) at the Peterborough Action For Tiny Homes (PATH) location at 385 Lansdowne Street East.
PATH is once again partnering with United Way Peterborough & District for the annual campaign, which grew out of the United Way’s original Coats for Kids initiative that began in 1986 to collect and distribute winter coats for children.
Today, the Coats for Community campaign collects winter essentials — including coats but also other winter clothing like coats, hats, sweaters, and boots as well as sleeping bags and blankets — for infants, children, youth, families, seniors, and unhoused people across the city and county of Peterborough. In 2024, the campaign collected and distributed 2,200 coats, an increase of 356 from the previous year.
Courtesy of PATH’s involvement, donations will be collected, repaired, cleaned, and distributed continuously throughout the winter season. Starting October 19, after the three-day public drop-off event, PATH will continue to accept donations throughout the fall and winter from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesdays and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays.
While most of the donated items will be distributed throughout the winter through United Way agency partners and other local organizations — including Big Brothers Big Sisters, Children’s Foundation, YWCA Peterborough Haliburton, One City Peterborough, Good Neighbours, New Canadians Centre, Elizabeth Fry Society, YES Shelter For Youth & Families, and more — PATH will also be open for individual community members to pick up coats from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. the first Saturday of each month from November to April (November 1, December 6, January 3, February 7, March 7, April 4).
As well as winter essentials, the campaign is seeking donations of extra-large boxes or bins for collection sites and heavy-duty coat racks to assist PATH in distribution. Organizations interested in hosting a donation bin or contributing supplies can email info@pathptbo.org.
