Free coats offered to help struggling families in Manchester
published on 3 Mar 2021
Free coats are being offered to struggling families by The Salvation Army in Openshaw, Manchester.
A clothing rail with coats suitable for children from the age of one-year-old right up to adult sizes is set up outside the church in Lime Square every Thursday.
The Wrap Up Openshaw scheme was set up in December in partnership with St Clement’s Church and charity Manchester Settlement, who were also collecting and distributing donations.
Corps officer Captain Jane Bishton, who runs Openshaw Salvation Army with her husband Captain Jon, said: “We’ve given out 40 to 60 coats so far to people of all ages.
“We know a lot of people are struggling financially and can’t afford new coats, so it is nice for us to be able to give something away for free. There’s been a great response, I think people are quite surprised that they don’t have to pay.
“It’s been a really great community project working alongside our friends at other local churches and charities.”
The rail is left in the lobby area and put outside on Thursdays when Openshaw Salvation Army runs its food bank.
The service, which is no longer accepting donations, will run until the end of March.
