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Home / Programs / Basic Needs / Coats for Kids & Families
Coats for Kids & Families aims to ensure families and individuals with limited resources have access to the proper winter outerwear needed for our cold Edmonton and area winters.
United Way of the Alberta Capital Region started the Coats for Kids & Families initiative in 1992 in response to an overwhelming need for winter wear by people in our community. Many local individuals and families simply don’t have the means to purchase the clothing needed to stay warm during Alberta’s harsh winters. The annual Coats for Kids & Families collection campaign runs from October through February. Once collected, the items are brought to United Way’s InKind Exchange where groups of volunteers sort and package the coats to be delivered to social agencies that distribute the items to the people who need them. In 2022, through our community partners, we distributed over 6,700 winter outwear items to those in need in our community and this year, we're anticipating an even greater need.
Help us reach our goal of collecting 9,000 coats for individuals and families in the Edmonton region.
Accepted items include:
Items NOT accepted: Non-winter clothing and outerwear.
Coats may be dropped off at one of the many drop off locations around the region or at United Way’s InKind Exchange by appointment only, call 780-990-1000. Find a location near you.
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We accept clean, gently used, outgrown or new winter outerwear for men, women, and children. Monetary donations are also accepted and used to purchase coats to meet specific agency requests or to fill shortfalls in certain sizing.
If you are looking for a coat, please call 211 or call 780 -482 -4636 (INFO) to find the agency distribution depot closest to you. Coats are not distributed by United Way directly to the public; all coats are distributed through various community agencies throughout the Alberta Capital Region.
Get winter outerwear to those who need it most. Frontline agencies serving clients in need across the Alberta Capital Region are invited to act as a distribution site.
145 collection sites were setup across the Alberta Capital Region.
Over 6,700 coats and winter items were sorted, counted, and bagged for distribution by 183 volunteers.
28 service providers received and distributed coats to people in need.
Share your time by sorting coats and outerwear at United Way’s InKind Exchange between October and January each year. Please contact us at [email protected] or 780-990-1000 to volunteer. Volunteer sessions must be booked in advance.
Get involved! Rally your co-workers, community organization, church group, or friends to host a collection drive to collect as many new or gently used coats and outerwear items as possible. The Coats for Kids & Families collection campaign runs from October through February.
