The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about a situation where charities are increasingly needed, but are facing sometimes insurmountable challenges to how they operate.
But Manchester-based charity Human Appeal is refusing to lower its ambitions, and for the fifth year is running its annual ‘Wrap Up’ campaign, collecting coats across major UK cities to donate to the homeless, refugees, people fleeing domestic violence, and other vulnerable people.
Nearly all of us have an old coat we don’t use. Last year, in partnership with Hands on London and with high profile supporters like Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, over 75,000 coats were collected and distributed across the country.
This year, despite many of their usual partners being unable to help because of pandemic restrictions, Human Appeal has been able to partner with Safestore in four major UK cities.
The charity is asking people to drop off a coat at their local Safestore or a participating community location on their way to the shop or while they are out exercising, and is also ensuring that the campaign is fully COVID-compliant by providing containers for contactless drop-off and quarantining coats for 72 hours before they are passed on.
The campaign this year was launched on 9thNovember and will run until 22ndNovember, and people will be able to drop off a coat in Greater Manchester between 8am-6pm Mon-Sat and 10am-4pm Sun at:
Safestore Stockport Bryant – Bryant House, 61-63 Wellington Road North, Stockport, SK4 1HS
Safestore Manchester Old Trafford – City Park, 34 Brindley Road, Old Trafford, Manchester, M16 9HQ
Safestore Manchester Central – 202-208 Cheetham Hill Road, Cheetham Hill, Manchester, M8 8LW
Safestore Altrincham – 1-2 Atlantic Street, Altrincham, WA14 5FA
Safestore Oldham – 189 Manchester Road, Oldham, OL8 4PS
Safestore Worsley – 1-2 Hazelhurst Road, Worsley, Manchester, M28 2SQ
Abid Shah, Human Appeal’s UK Programmes Manager said:
“We knew that Wrap Up would be much more of a challenge to organize this year, but that’s nothing compared to the challenges people across the UK are facing because of the pandemic. With economic uncertainty and a second wave during winter, the need for Wrap Up has never been greater and Human Appeal stands ready to help as always.
“That old coat you never wear, that’s been hanging in the same spot for months, could be someone’s lifeline this winter. Pop down to your local drop-off point and make a difference.”
