Coats For Refugees: Northbrook, Glenview Civic Organizations Team Up

NORTHBROOK, IL — For the past nine years, the Rotary of Northbrook has been helping local residents stay warm during the winter with its annual "Coat Off Your Back" collection drive. This year, the organization is partnering up with the Glenview Sunrise Club in the endeavor.

In addition, the drive is specifically focused on collecting winter coats for the many refugees that have recently resettled in the North Shore and Chicagoland area, along with homeless residents. The goal is to make sure that local refugee settling organizations such as World ReliefChicago, PADs, Stock the Shelves and Connections for the Homeless will be able to provide winter coats for infants, children, teens, and adults they serve.

"Every year, refugees from different parts of the world end up being resettled in the Chicago area, frequently arriving with few possessions from home," Rick Rosenfeld, one of the coat drive's organizers, told Patch. "Last winter, there was an influx of refugees from Afghanistan. This year, there has been an influx from Ukraine and Venezuela, each spending their first winter in Chicago."

Unfortunately, donations are down this year compared to 2020 and 2021, according to Rosenfeld. Earlier this week, 346 winter coats were distributed, along with four to five boxes of hats, gloves, scarves and boots, but more are needed.

"While it is hard to know the exact reason, it is possible that the last two years residents did a lot of closet cleaning during COVID-19 lockdown, and that this year they are spending more time out and about," Rosenfeld said. "But we know there are many heavy coats in people’s closets that are no longer being used, so if area residents take a few moments to check for those that could benefit from a new owner, we would be grateful."

Donation bins for the "Coat Off Your Back" drive can be found throughout the Village of Northbrook at the following locations: North Suburban YMCA; Northbrook Library; Sunset Foods; Northbrook Village Hall; Northbrook Bank & Trust; Waterway Carwash; Orange Theory, and in Glenview: Glenview Community Ice Center; Glenview Public Library; Ace Hardware; and Glenview Park Center.

Rosenfeld said local businesses have also been getting involved to help. Two Men and a Truck picked up on Monday and delivered 35 coats to Stock the Shelves in Wilmette in advance of their December distribution, and 30 to World Relief’s western suburb office in Carol Stream.

For additional locations and information, visit here.