Peterborough residents will have an opportunity to help neighbours prepare for winter during a community-wide collection day for Coats for Community … and More! on Saturday, November 7.
United Way Peterborough & District and Peterborough Action for Tiny Homes (PATH) will accept donations of new and gently used winter clothing and cold-weather gear from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the PATH community hub at 385 Lansdowne Street East in Peterborough, across from Willowcreek Centre east of Ashburnham Drive.
All items and sizes are welcome, although organizers say men’s clothing and footwear in men’s sizes are particularly needed. Requested items include waterproof and insulated winter coats, snow pants, winter boots, hats, gloves and mittens, fleece jackets and sweatshirts, hoodies, sweatpants and track pants, hand warmers, sleeping bags, and blankets.
Used items should be in good condition, with working zippers and no stains or tears.
The collection day is part of the United Way’s 2026 Coats for Community … and More! campaign, an annual initiative intended to ensure local children, adults, and families have access to warm winter clothing and other essentials at no cost.
The program began as Coats for Kids in 1986 and has evolved to serve a broader range of community needs. For the past three years, the United Way has delivered the program in partnership with PATH, which launched its own community clothing hub in 2023.
While coats remain a major focus for the annual campaign, organizers have expanded the campaign to recognize that staying warm through winter often requires more than a jacket — hence the new name “Coats for Community … and More!”
“No one in our community should have to face winter without the clothing they need to stay warm,” said United Way CEO Jason Seguya during a launch event at the PATH community hub on Wednesday (October 21).
“Looking out for our neighbours can start with something as simple as donating a coat or organizing a collection at work. Through our partnership with PATH, those contributions reach people who need them, helping more children, adults and families stay warm and safe through the cold months ahead.”
Last winter, PATH distributed more than 2,200 coats along with hundreds of other winter essentials.
PATH program coordinator Bev Assinck said donations received last year included snow pants, boots, sleeping bags, blankets, hats, gloves and mittens, hand warmers, and gift cards.
“Your contributions of sturdy coats, snow pants, boots, sleeping bags, blankets, hats, gloves and mitts, hand warmers and Tim’s cards made a tremendous difference for so many,” Assinck said. “We gave coats and other items to many families and individuals, and their gratitude was immeasurable.”
Individuals, workplaces, schools, service clubs, sports teams, faith communities, and other organizations are encouraged to organize their own collection drives and bring donations to the November 7 event.
A limited number of collection boxes for larger donation drives are available from United Way Peterborough & District by emailing Betsy MacDonald at bmacdonald@uwpeterborough.ca.
After the community-wide collection day on November 7, additional donations can be made at PATH from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesdays and Saturdays throughout the winter and into April.
For people who need winter clothing, distribution at PATH will begin on Saturday, November 14 and continue on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. through December 19.
Volunteers will help people find appropriate items and sizes, with quantities potentially limited depending on available inventory. Family members may also pick up items on behalf of others.
Some local service providers will also have limited quantities of winter gear available, with an updated list to be posted at www.uwpeterborough.ca.
As for service providers wishing to access winter coats and gear on behalf of their own clients, they can place bulk orders that can be picked up from PATH. For more information, email Betsy MacDonald at bmacdonald@uwpeterborough.ca.
