How to Donate Warm Coats in Washington, DC

Donating warm coats can help Washington's homeless survive the winter.

According to the Coalition for the Homeless, Washington, D.C. has approximately 6,000 to 7,000 homeless men, women and children as of 2010. The average low temperature in Washington, D.C. in January is 27 degrees, and record lows are below zero, as reported by The Weather Channel. Charitable organizations in our nation's capital depend heavily on donations of warm coats each winter to keep the homeless and those in crisis from dying due to the cold temperatures and exposure to the elements.

Things You'll Need

• Coats
• Cardboard boxes
• Permanent marker

Instructions

1. Determine which coats you wish to donate. Consider donating those coats that are the warmest and most practical for someone living on the streets.

2. Separate men's, women's and children's coats in different cardboard boxes. Mark each of the boxes with a permanent marker identifying the number of coats inside and for whom they are suitable.

3. Decide which charitable organizations in Washington, D.C. take coats as donations or collect coats during an annual coat drive. Serve DC and the One Warm Coat Foundation annually holds coat drives to provide for those in need.

4. Contact the charitable organization and arrange for a staff member or volunteer to pick up your donation of winter coats. If the charity does not have the staffing to pick up coats, ask about drop off locations and hours of operation.

Tips & Warnings

• Check the Resources section of this article for several charities in Washington, D.C. that accept donations of coats.

References

• DC Coalition for the Homeless: FAQs
• The Weather Channel: Monthly Averages for Washington, DC:

Resources

• District of Columbia: Service Day: One Warm Coat
• Black Student Fund
• Christ House
• Christ Child Society