Haven for Hope is hosting a clothing donation drive this weekend ahead of the winter weather months.
The “Haven for Hope Coata-Palooza Donation Drive” will take place this Friday and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the nonprofit’s campus in San Antonio.
“With the temperatures dropping early next week, Haven for Hope is asking our community to clean out their closets and donate gently used coats, hoodies, sweatshirts, hats, gloves, and other cold-weather clothing,” Haven for Hope said in a press release sent to The Dallas Express.
The organization said it is currently serving more than 1,700 clients, including more than 355 children, and needs donations for both genders and all ages and sizes.
Those who do not live in San Antonio but wish to donate can select items from Haven’s Amazon Wishlist, which can be found here.
“We are expecting highs in the 40s on Monday and 50s during the week,” communications director Terri Behling said to The Dallas Express.
“After a long and hot summer, we want to ensure that our clients and the unsheltered individuals in our community have coats or jackets to get through the winter season,” she continued. “We will accept gently used lightweight jackets, hoodies, heavy jackets, fleeces, and sweaters during our Coata-Palooza Coats for a Cause Drive.”
Haven for Hope serves as a “one-stop-shop” for homeless services in San Antonio, providing housing on the same campus as services like counseling, rehab, and job skills development.
The organization’s approach to homeless services has been credited with a 77% reduction in homelessness in San Antonio. Meanwhile, homelessness and vagrancy continue to be major concerns in Dallas.
Polling conducted by The Dallas Express found that more than 80% of city residents are frustrated with homelessness, vagrancy, and panhandling in their neighborhoods and throughout Dallas.
The “one-stop-shop” model has polled favorably among Dallas residents. In August, Mayor Eric Johnson visited Haven for Hope, but it remains to be seen whether the City of Dallas will adopt similar policies.
