Donate your old coat to the homeless

 Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Larry Anthony, today encouraged Canberrans to dig out a coat and donate it on 2002 Commonwealth Bank National Coat Day on Saturday 6 July.

“There wouldn’t be many Canberrans who did not have a coat that they do not wear anymore. They should donate one so that homeless and needy people get some much needed warmth this winter.”

Mr Anthony praised Enormity Inc., the community-based committee of young people that developed the appeal and the students of Lyneham High School for their efforts in organising the ACT appeal.

“More than 15,000 coats and jackets have been donated to charity in previous years, largely as the result of the involvement of young people around Australia, who run their own events to promote the appeal in their local area.

“The Coalition Government is determined to do all we can to ensure that the aspirations and long-term prospects of Australian families and children aren’t placed in jeopardy by homelessness.

“Homelessness can have devastating long-term effects on the structure of families and on individual family members. To address this problem, we fund the $5 million National Homelessness Strategy over three years to specifically target areas with families that are at a high risk of homelessness,” Mr Anthony said.

National Coat Day is sponsored by the Commonwealth Bank, Saville Apartments and the Department of Family and Community Services. Coats collected through the public appeal will be distributed by St. Vincent De Paul.