"The success of this year’s coat drive wouldn’t have been possible without our generous friends and associates, including local schools and businesses who hosted collections and encouraged donations"
- Rebecca Hill - Chestertons
Following the four-week coat drive, Chestertons employees volunteered to spend three days cleaning, categorising and counting the donations and are thrilled to announce that they have hit a new record – over 10,000 donations have been raised, 6,000 of which have come from Chestertons.
Every year, Chestertons turns each of its High Street branches into donation points and works with clients, local community groups, schools and businesses to raise as much awareness and collect as many coats as possible. Since teaming up with Calling London in 2013, they have helped to keep over 40,000 vulnerable Londoners warm through winter, including the homeless, families facing financial difficulties and refugees.
This year, the branches had to work particularly hard to secure donations as the cost of living crisis resulted in many people not buying new coats and therefore not wanting to part with their old ones.
To overcome these challenges, Chestertons invested more funding than ever into the campaign - producing radio adverts, and brand videos and encouraging even more partners to get involved, including Rightmove and Zoopla who ran collections in their head offices, as well as the numerous schools that collected hundreds of donations for this great cause.
The donations are now being distributed to over 30 charities and shelters across the capital, including St Mungo’s, Crisis at Christmas, Help our Homeless, Dressed for Success, Suited & Booted, Hestia and several food banks.
Additional community groups have also reached to Calling London this year - including a southeast London school that sent a special request as some of their students’ families are facing financial difficulties and cannot afford warm winter clothes. Their appeal for over 70 coats was met, with a variety of sizes and styles sent to keep those children warm this winter.
Frances Manthos, Founder of Calling London, comments: “With the cost of living crisis and rising energy bills impacting on so many households, the need for donations has been particularly high this year. The support of Chestertons, its clients, suppliers, and business partners has been extraordinary and will make an immense difference to so many people in need.”
Rebecca Hill of Chestertons, who coordinated the project, adds: “The success of this year’s coat drive wouldn’t have been possible without our generous friends and associates, including local schools and businesses who hosted collections and encouraged donations, and our employees whose passion drives the success of this initiative every year. 10,000 people will be kept warm this year due to the generosity and kindness of everyone involved – thank you!”
