The season of giving is firmly upon us as is the time of year when the temperature takes a steep nose dive and folks start to bundle up warm. By now most of us would have taken our winter coats, scarves, gloves, and hats out of hibernation, reuniting us with our winter wardrobes and perhaps realising we’ve got a coat or two that we no longer need.
Well luckily, this year Father Christmas is on hand to collect your pre-loved coats you no longer wear and will be collecting them in a number of pubs dotted around London, no less. The big man is even swapping his reindeer for horses to take a tour around London and stop over at two of the pubs supporting the charity drive. Unwanted coats can make a real difference to the homeless and vulnerable during these cold climates so the donated coats will be distributed to front-line charities and those in need within the community.
How to donate your coat
Wrap Up London, led by Hands On London, is in its 13th year of supporting those in need through harsh cold conditions every winter and this year has teamed up with Young’s Brewery to hold a number of coat drop-off points in selected Young’s pubs around London.
From November 22 to December 4, these select Young’s Pubs in London will be collecting any unwanted coats you’re happy to donate:
- Alma, Wandsworth
- Brewer’s Inn, Wandsworth
- Bunch of Grapes, London Bridge
- County Arms, Wandsworth
- East Hill, Wandsworth
- King’s Arms, Wandsworth
- The Marquess of Anglesey, Covent Garden
- The Phoenix, Victoria
- Queen Adelaide, Putney
- Spread Eagle, Wandsworth
On the final day of the charity drive, Wednesday December 6, be on the lookout for Santa himself as he rides around London on his reindeer shire-horse-led sleigh, or rather carriage, where his route will take him through the capital starting at noon in Victoria, the dray horses will then make their way past Buckingham Palace and down The Mall before finishing in Covent Garden at the Marquess of Anglesey.
So what’s stopping you? Dig out those old coats you no longer need, head down to one of your locals listed above to grab a drink and spread some Christmas love by helping out those who need it the most this winter.