DO YOU have coats that you no longer need?

Rotary Club of Callington are collecting unwanted coats to pass to people in need through their Wrap Up project.

Founded in 2010, Wrap Up UK is a volunteer-run service project working in partnership with Hands On London where coats are collected and delivered to nominated charities for distribution to people across the UK, who struggle to keep warm during the winter months. Recipients are also ‘signposted’ to other services that can help them rebuild their lives. As of 2022, there are now 18 Wrap Up clusters across the UK.

For the first time, the South East Cornwall Rotary Clubs are running the project Wrap Up South East Cornwall and are appealing for you to rummage through your wardrobe and to donate any unwanted coats.

The group are collecting coats now until the end of November and have already collected and sorted 120 coats at the central sorting office in Dobwalls, but are appealing for people to keep donating.

The group are on the lookout for coats are in a wearable condition to ensure that only good quality coats are distributed via their partner charitable organisations.

A member of the Rotary Club of Callington, Keith Harris who is invovled with the project said: “We only want donations of no longer wanted coats, not damaged.

“We say if you wouldn’t wear it, we don’t want it.”

Keith explained that for the small percentage of coats that are donated that are in a very poor condition, they work with various recycling organisations and any money received from that is donated to the local charities.

The group are starting to distribute the coats through local charities Callington Foodbank, St Petrocs, Trevi, and also the Plymouth Soup Run. These charities are in contact with those that are homeless and those in need to distribute them directly.

Collection points in the Tamar Valley can be found during October and November at: Callington Town Hall, Callington Primary School, Callington Community College, and the Old School Stoke Climsland.

Keith highlighted that so far the collection is off to a great start as the donation boxes continue to be filled by the community dropping off their unwanted coats.

“Every coat counts in our quest to provide warmth to the homeless and vulnerable!”,he said.

“We are lucky that so many wonderful organisations and individuals believe in the campaign and want to make it a success. Every year, Rotarians across the country give up their own personal time to help vulnerable individuals by making Wrap Up happen.”

Aside from working with their partner charity organisations, the South East Cornwall group will also have discussions with the locals schools to explore if they have any needs.

To find out more about about the project visit: https://wrapupuk.org/wrap-up-area/south-east-cornwall/

To get in contact with Callington Rotary, please contact Keith by emailing: [email protected]