The Leith Collective, a leading sustainability retail outlet at Ocean Terminal is hosting ‘The Big Coat Drop’ throughout February, urging visitors to bring in old jackets to donate to those in need this winter season.

With one in five families living below the poverty line, it is a real concern within the community that people do not have suitable garments to get them through the cold winter months. The Leith Collective is launching this call to action, asking visitors to bring in old coats and jackets this month, to donate and make a real difference to those who need it most.

The initiative comes as part of the centre’s continued commitment to the Sustainability Resolution, which was launched in January in partnership with The Leith Collective. The campaign has seen visitors ‘Bring a tin to OT’ to donate to local foodbanks, as well as hosting a variety of workshops teaching shoppers to recycle, reuse and upcycle.

Michelle Macleod, Deputy Centre Manager at Ocean Terminal said:

“We are always inspired by the work The Leith Collective wants to carry out and we are always happy to help and support in any way we can.

“We’re calling upon the public to give us coats they no longer wear or their children have grown out of. We still have cold months to come and want to make sure we can help as many people as possible.”

Sara Thomson, founder of The Leith Collective said:

“This time of year is crucial for families, with the colder months passing by it’s essential that people have warm winter coats that can withstand the faithful Scottish weather.

“At The Leith Collective, we believe giving back can be as simple as giving a coat you no longer wear. As a mother, I know how quickly kids grow out of clothes, if we could gather all the jackets that are now not big enough for our own kids to help someone else, it would make a real difference in the community.”

Donations will be taken at The Leith Collective’s store within the shopping centre, where they will then be given to Edinburgh NE Foodbanks and Streetwork to distribute across sites.

The Leith Collective is located on the first floor of Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre and is open from Monday – Friday 10:30am to 6:00pm, Saturday 11:00am – 6:00pm and Sunday 11:00am to 5:00pm. For information on the donation and the ongoing workshops, please visit www.oceanterminal.com