Announcement
Coats donated through the Burlington and Delivering Good coat drive
Photo: Kyle Monsees/IRC
Burlington and Delivering Good launched its 13th annual Burlington Coat Drive this winter. Every year, each Burlington store chooses a local nonprofit to donate coats to for the winter season. Burlington shoppers are eligible for ten percent off their purchase when they donate a winter coat to the coat drive. For the sixth consecutive year, the IRC in Silver Spring received 280 winter coats from the Silver Spring Burlington store. Our staff and volunteers distributed 103 coats to clients to date and the remaining coats will be provided to new refugee arrivals throughout the year or stored for the start of next winter season. One IRC staff person who has witnessed the partnership with Burlington over the years had this to say about it:
“As we approach winter each year, we know we will be welcoming dozens of families from various countries such as Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea and Ethiopia. It is always scary to think we won’t have a coat for someone when they arrive. That is why we are grateful for the Burlington partnership—because of it, we know we’ll have the coats we need. We are certain our clients are grateful for any warm coat, but I am always really happy to see the amount of new or like-new coats that we receive through the Silver Spring Burlington Coat Factory. It is always extra special to give away a coat in new condition because you can feel a greater sense of happiness and dignity with it.”
Thank you to Burlington and Delivering Good for their continued support of the International Rescue Committee and for ensuring that our clients enjoy a warm first winter in the United States!
If you want to get involved with the IRC and become a welcoming presence in the lives of newly arrived refugees, please consider attending one of our monthly information sessions to learn about our volunteer opportunities.
Written by Kyle Monsees