Somerset Council’s Libraries service is relaunching its Winter Coat Exchange scheme, designed to support the community by providing access to warm coats for anyone in need.
Now in its third year, the scheme has been increasingly successful with 2,470 coats donated and 2,086 taken last winter. The excess donations were given to the charity RAFT – Refugee Aid From Taunton.
The organisation supports displaced people locally and further afield, and works with other local charities/groups supporting a variety of different causes.
Libraries taking part this year are: Minehead, Yeovil, Street, Glastonbury, Langport, Williton, Burnham-on-Sea, Taunton, Porlock, Shepton Mallet, Wellington, Dulverton, Chard, and Ilminster.
The initiative was launched to help people stretch tight budgets that little bit further. The scheme is simple:
- You can take a coat without making a donation.
- You can donate a coat without taking one.
- All donations must be of good quality and in a clean condition.
- Coats of any shape or size, for adults or children are accepted.
- Donors are asked to hand items directly to a member of staff at one of the participating libraries
Councillor Federica Smith-Roberts, Lead Member for Communities, HRA and Culture, said:
“This scheme gets more successful every year and we know that both donors and those needing a warm coat are really positive. Colder and wet weather will soon be with us and this can be challenging for many, especially those who can’t afford to stay warm.
“Libraries become so much more than places for reading and studying, they become warm, welcoming, social spaces – real community hubs. I hope that people can donate good quality clean items that others can benefit from.”
For more information or to participate in the Coat Exchange scheme, please visit your nearest participating library, on www.facebook.com or contact librariesmail@somerset.gov.uk
