By Danielle Kutchel
Casey residents have come to the aid of those in need of warmth with a massive coat drive for charity.
More than 300 winter woollens were donated to those in need thanks to the efforts of a group of community-minded donors who connected over Facebook.
A shoutout was posted on the City of Casey Community group, calling for donations, at the end of June.
Helen Paton answered the call, offering to be a drop-off point for other people’s donations as well as cleaning out her own wardrobe.
In Helen’s words, “it snowballed from there” with a number of other people right across Casey putting their hands up to donate or act as a drop-off point.
Within days, Helen had already collected dozens of coats and by mid-July she was ready to drop the accumulated bags off to Back 2 Basics.
In the end, she had collected about 230 coats and jackets from about 17 donors over two weeks.
“It was a really good response, I couldn’t get over it,” she exclaimed.
“Within five days I had nine big garbage bags full of clothes.
“I ended up with one of those great big vegetable bins overloaded with bags of clothes!”
Other drop-off recipients donated their gatherings to Casey North Community Information and Support Service, with a total of around 380 items donated.
Helen said the team at Back 2 Basics were stunned and delighted with the donations.
She’s now looking forward to doing it all again next year.
“It’s good to help in the community,” she said.
“This is what community heart and spirit is about and what we need more of.”
And Helen has a special message for anyone with disused winter woollies sitting in their cupboard.
“If you’ve got extra clothes in the cupboard that you don’t wear anymore, get them out and give them to the needy.”
To donate, find Back 2 Basics or Casey North Community Information and Support Service on Facebook.
