Thanks to the kindness of Matt, Patrick Green Ltd agreed to locate the Collection Box in their shop.
Mary & Alan emptied this box of the coats generously donated and with other coats donated direct , these were all taken on Wed 9th Nov to the Safestore room provided FOC. This initial batch contained 55 adult coats and 22 children's coats. As the box fills, coats will be transfered to Safestore.
The Collection Box was filled a further two times. Other coats were dropped off to Mary , Alan & Neil's.
These were taken in two carloads to our storeroom in Safestore, Chelmsford. Overall we estimate the total number collected as over 300 by Ingatestone Rotary and for the 4 local Chelmsford area around 900 - 950. WOW!
The next step was carried out by half a dozen local Rotarian volunteers, when the coats were sorted in men's, women's and children's coats.
By appointment, "Changing Pathways, Basildon" and CHESS Homeless selected and took away around 70 misc. coats for their charities. All the Chelmsford clubs also distributed coats to local charities.
Now the campaign has finished, on Tuesday 20th Dec, all those remaining coats were loaded into a trailer and transfered to UK-AID's warehouse at Leaden Roding.
Alan at UK Aid, thankied Rotary for the “wonderful donation” (his
words) and stated that most of the coats have already been packed up and will
be going to the Ukraine in early February. He looks forward to working with Rotary again in the future.
The local community were so generous with their donations. Our Social media coverage certainly drove this project - a first time for Ingatestone