Donate Winter Clothes For Area Kids In Need At Haverford YMCA

HAVERTOWN, PA — Havertown-area residents are invited to help collect and donate thousands of winter coats, as well as other winter gear, for children in the area.

Cradles to Crayons is looking to collect 20,000 coats, for children in the region for winter.

The group is seeking donations of new or like-new winter clothing items to distribute through its network of more than 230 service partners, including schools, health providers and more.

In the Havertown area, those willing to support the campaign can drop off items at the Haverford YMCA, 891 N. Eagle Road in Havertown.

Now through February 2025, people can donate new or like-new coats in all sizes, newborn to adult, as well as hats, gloves, boots, and warm winter clothing at the YMCA.

A full list of drop off locations is available online here.

Cradles to Crayons anticipates distributing 20,000 coats, 25,000 packages of warm winter clothing and 5,000 winter accessories this winter.

Clothing insecurity is defined as the lack of access to affordable, adequate, appropriate clothing, according to the group.

Children facing clothing insecurity often have clothing and shoes that may not fit properly, be in wearable condition, or be seasonally appropriate for the weather.

The need is especially high heading into this winter for several reasons.

New data from Philadelphia’s recent Point-in-Time Count shows that Philadelphia’s homeless population increased by nearly 38 percent last year.

Families are entering winter 2024 still recovering from an incredibly expensive back-to-school season, with 31 percent of adults carrying debt from purchasing school supplies.

One in three families with young children were unable to pay their home energy bill at least once in the past year, leaving many forced to choose between heating their homes or feeding their families, according to the National Energy Assistance Directors Association.

Since January 2020, the cost of children’s clothing has increased 11.7 percent, Cradles to Crayons said.

More than 300,000 children in Greater Philadelphia live in low-income and homeless situations, where the cost of a winter coat and boots is often beyond reach.

"Gear Up for Winter ensures that children in our community have the essential warm clothing they need, lifting a significant financial burden off families already juggling tight budgets," Michal Smith, Executive Director of Cradles to Crayons Philadelphia, said. "Caregivers and families in Greater Philadelphia and nationwide are grappling with soaring living costs—from clothing and heating to housing and food. Providing these critical items helps families focus on what matters most: keeping their children safe and healthy during the harsh winter months."