Do you have an old snow, hiking or travel jacket you no longer wear?
With the wintery cold weather setting in for many states this week, its a great reminder to think of those doing it tough and braving the freezing conditions.
For the eighth consecutive year, Anaconda has teamed up with Australian-owned snow and outdoor brand XTM Performance for its ‘Heat the Homeless’ campaign. Running now until 31 August, the campaign aims to collect high-quality jackets that would otherwise end up in landfill and donate them to those in need.
With over 32,000 jackets donated to people experiencing hardship across Australia since the appeal was founded in 2016, Anaconda plays an important role as a collection point for Aussies to donate their pre-loved jackets.
Anaconda Chief Executive Officer Chris Lude said the social impact of the campaign on the homeless community was immense. “Anaconda is now in its eighth year of support, and we are incredibly proud to back the Heat the Homeless initiative in partnership with XTM, which collects warm clothing to help the less fortunate in our community during the colder months,” he said.
“As Australia’s leading outdoor retailer, we’re dedicated to helping millions of Aussie adventurers create lasting winter memories every year.”
“But for those doing it tough on our streets, there is nowhere to escape the harshness of winter, and with the current challenging economic climate, this is an incredibly difficult time for many. We’re proud to play our part in helping our Anaconda community members bring a little bit of warmth to those who need it most.”
XTM Performance founder Pete Forras said there were additional benefits beyond the primary purpose of Heat the Homeless, with an incredible 27.2 tonnes of clothing being diverted from landfill since the campaign’s inception.
“There are so many high-quality jackets that are purchased for a single ski season before being discarded after only a couple of weeks of wear.”
“Rather than sending these jackets straight to the landfill, we saw an opportunity to make a difference to the lives of the thousands of Australians sleeping rough throughout winter, and we are so grateful to Anaconda for joining us on our mission to Heat the Homeless.”
Have a snow jacket or puffer you'd like to donate? Have the kids grown out of last year's ski gear? Find your local Anaconda store here.