‘Men’s coats please!’: Fresh appeal as winter swap-shop hits 50 donations

Suits you, sir: volunteer Rob Coyle sports a women’s fake fur coat. Photograph: Kind Coats

A winter coat exchange at Stoke Newington Library has already hit 50 donations since launching on 1 December.

But Kind Coats organiser Rachel Murrell says more men’s coats are needed – and sent the Citizen a picture of volunteer Rob Coyle modelling a fake fur fleece to drive home the point.

Rachel, who lives in Stoke Newington and is running a charity coat rail for a second successive year, said: “We started on 1 December and coats are coming in and going out at a fair rate.

“We have seven brilliant volunteers and estimate we have received more than 50 donations, and we’ve given away about 30 of those.

“The coats donated vary in weight and quality, and some are nearly new.”

Rachel ran a coat exchange at the library last year. Photograph: Kind Coats

There’s just one problem, Rachel explained: “We’re getting a lot more women’s coats than men’s. We need more men’s coats!”

Stoke Newington Library is hosting the exchange for a second year, and Rachel added: “A big shout-out to the library. Not only are they the perfect hosts in terms of location, but they’re friendly and helpful too. We love them.”

This year, Rachel has teamed up with Kind Coats UK, a charity that runs exchanges across the UK and helps local volunteers to set up their own.

To donate in Stoke Newington, just take your unwanted men’s coats along to the library on Church Street over the winter.