The International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Salt Lake City would like to invite you to join our Warm Welcome Winter Clothing Drive! By donating clean, new or like-new winter clothing, you are supporting newly arrived refugee families as they work hard to achieve self-sufficiency in their new home.

Vaulted ceiling gymnasium filled with tables and clothing racks that are themselves filled with winter coats and jackets; at the front, center table two women wearing hijabs pick through children's winter clothing.
Newly arrived refugee families pick out much-needed winter clothing at the IRC's annual Warm Welcome Winter Clothing Drive.
Photo: James Roh

Winter clothing donations will be accepted starting from September 4th through October 11th to the IRC office between 9am and 5pm Monday through Friday. We are accepting the following items in clean, new, or like-new condition. Drop off sign up coming soon, email us at [email protected] to schedule a drop off in the meantime.

Increase your impact by donating a gift card along with your winter clothing. Visa or Mastercard gift cards or gift cards to Walmart, TJMaxx, or other low-cost stores are preferred in amounts between $25 to $100. Access to gift cards helps ensure all sizing is met and helps families purchase hard-to-fit items like winter boots.

How to donate

OPTION 1: If you buy from our Wish List, you can have the items shipped directly to our office.

OPTION 2: If you prefer to purchase new items or gather like-new items, you can deliver donations directly to our office by following these steps:

  1. Sign up for a drop off time. Sign up here »
  2. Please let us know if you have more than one carload of items to donate, so we can plan ahead and make sure we have enough people to help unload!
  3. If there isn’t a time slot that works for you or if you have additional questions, please email [email protected]

Donations can be dropped off at our office downtown located at 221 South 400 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84101. 

OPTION 3: If you want to ship items, please contact [email protected] for shipping information. 

Two women stand facing each other leaning over a pile of winter coats at the IRC's winter clothing drive in 2023.
Volunteers and community supporters help ensure the IRC's annual Warm Welcome Winter Clothing Drive meets the needs of our newest neighbors.
Photo: James Roh

Volunteer Opportunities

We will be distributing the winter clothing items to hundreds of newly arrived refugees in early October. Volunteer opportunities are available to help with donation sorting and setup, acting as a personal shopper, or helping to clean up after the drive is over. Sign up here »

Questions? Contact us at [email protected]. 

Winter Clothing Drive FAQs

Does quality matter for winter clothing donations?

Yes! We like to say, “If you wouldn’t give it to a loved one, then it won’t work for a refugee family.” Refugees should begin their new life with dignity; therefore, we have high expectations for donated goods. Clothing should function like-new (e.g. zippers should work; all buttons should be in place; no rips/tears; no large stains) and be clean when donated. Additionally, kindly check pockets for any hidden treasures before donating.

What types of winter clothing do you accept?

Our priority is new or like-new winter coats, boots, and gloves. We can also accept warm jackets, winter hats, scarves, and warm socks. We accept handmade winter accessories like knit scarves and hats. See our Wish List for specific items we are requesting.

Do you accept all clothing donations?

No. The Warm Welcome Winter Clothing Drive focuses specifically on winter clothing items that will keep people warm during the coldest months of the year. However, we are limited in the items we can accept. We are not able to accept everyday clothing items. Additionally, we do not accept long sleeve t-shirts, pants, pajamas, sweatsuits, etc. during the Winter Clothing Drive.

How do you prefer to receive winter clothing donations?

Before dropping winter clothing items off, please sort out any items that are not in clean, new or like-new condition. Again, if the item is not in good condition, we will not be able to accept it. To assist our efforts to provide about 600 newly arrived refugees with winter clothing, please sort winter clothing items into plastic bags labeled with the following categories before delivery:

  1. Adult Female
  2. Adult Male
  3. Youth Female
  4. Youth Male
  5. Toddler/Infant
  6. Winter Accessories (if large quantities, please separate gloves, scarves and hats)

Do I need to make an appointment to drop off donations?

It is helpful if you sign up for a drop-off slot! You can drop off your donations weekdays from 9am-5pm through October 11th. Please reach out to [email protected] to discuss alternatives.  

Do you just have one drop-off location?

Yes. Donations can be dropped off at our office located at 221 South 400 West weekdays from 9am-5pm. We are located on the east side of the street with 30-minute or 2-hour parking directly out in front of our door. If those parking spaces are filled, feel free to use the pull-in that provides access to several reserved spaces next to the building. This pull-in can be used briefly to unload, just make sure your hazard lights are on and you do not block the sidewalk.

Can you pick up winter clothing donations from my house?

Unfortunately, no. We have limited capacity to pick up donations in the community, and generally, only schedule pickups for large furniture items. Learn more about our donation pickups. 

Do you provide tax receipts?

Yes! When you drop off winter clothing, our staff members can offer you a donation receipt upon request.

Thank you for supporting our Warm Welcome Winter Clothing Drive! For more information or to learn more about the event, kindly email us at [email protected].