In just one month, London estate agency Chestertons has collected almost 4,000 coats for the charity Calling London to help vulnerable Londoners through the winter months. The coat drive took place from 21 October to 22 November. The Putney branch collected 50 coats.
Each of Chestertons high street branches were donation points and they worked with clients, staff, local community groups and businesses to generate awareness. This year, the branches had to work particularly hard to secure donations as the cost of living crisis resulted in many people not buying new coats and therefore not wanting to part with their old ones.
Many Chestertons employees, including the agency’s newly appointed CEO John Ennis, volunteered over the final campaign weekend to sort the donations ready for distribution to charities. The donations have now been distributed to over 30 charities and shelters across the capital, including Crisis at Christmas, Little Village, Smartworks, Suited & Booted, Hestia and several food banks across the capital.
Giles Milner, Marketing Director and a Trustee of The Chestertons Foundation: “It’s wonderful to see all of the innovative ideas and approaches that Chestertons employees come up with to raise more and more coats every year for our Calling London Coat Drive. We are very pleased to have collected so many coats and I’m enormously thankful to all of Chestertons’ staff, clients, friends – and the local communities we worked with – for their generosity.”
Frances Manthos, Founder of Calling London: “With the cost of living crisis and rising energy bills impacting on so many households, the need for donations has been particularly high this year. The support of Chestertons, its clients, suppliers, and business partners has been extraordinary and will make an immense difference to so many people in need.”