More than 1000 nearly-new jackets were donated by members of the public following a Winter Clothing Campaign in South Lanarkshire.
During December 2020, South Lanarkshire Council launched the campaign to allow people to donate the items to supermarkets across the area.
And during the three-week period from launch, 1,002 new or nearly new winter jackets were donated, along with a range of miscellaneous items.
South Lanarkshire Council’s unpaid work team then collected the items and laundered, sorted and redistributed them to those who need them across South Lanarkshire.
Around half of South Lanarkshire schools and nurseries received jackets, which they have distributed to children and young people who need them.
Adult sized jackets were also distributed to Eva Burrows (centre supporting older people with dementia), Lindsay House (homeless unit), Hamilton churches and South Lanarkshire Council social work resources for redistribution to adults who need them across South Lanarkshire Council.
Education resources executive director Tony McDaid said: “The campaign has undoubtedly been a huge success. As a result, we plan to run this annually.
“A huge thanks to members of the public for kindly donating the much-needed items. A special thanks to the Unpaid Work Team who had the enormous task of collecting, sorting, laundering and redistributing the items.
“A final thanks to the supermarkets who kindly agreed to be donation centres. The collective efforts of all have ensured that more than 1,000 children, young people and adults across South Lanarkshire have benefited from the donations.”
Head Teacher of Trinity High School, Peter Bollen, said: “We were delighted to have benefitted from the wonderful work of our partners at the council.
“Many needy children and young people, who are facing major challenges in their life, were supported by this innovative and productive venture.
“Such activities help so many children and young people, and these small steps help to reduce the poverty-related attainment gap.
“More importantly, they ensured that our children and young people were warm this winter.”
Tesco in Rutherglen and Morrisons in Cambuslang were among the places serving as donation centres for the goods.
Some supermarkets, such as Morrisons in Cambuslang, even carried on similar initiatives into the New Year, ensuring that more locals would benefit.
