Where to Donate + Receive Winter Gear in Massachusetts

It’s that time of year in Massachusetts where additional layers are needed! Below is a roundup of places where families can donate or receive winter gear in Massachusetts. I'm so grateful to these organizations for the work they do to help so many. If there are organizations that we have missed, please share in the comments so we can update accordingly!

1. Gifts to Give (Acushnet)

Gifts to Give is housed in a former golf ball factory and focuses its giving primarily to the south coast of MA. They accept most gently used clothing and toy items for newborns through school aged children, though there are some things they don’t take, so be sure to check this list before dropping off.

2. Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program (Boston)

Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program provides or assures access to the highest quality health care for all homeless individuals and families in the greater Boston area. They have a list of ongoing donation needs, as well as seasonal needs; due to COVID-19 they are currently accepting limited, new in-kind donations.

3. City Mission (Boston)

City Mission is focused on homelessness prevention. Their Coat Boston program intentionally focuses on securing new coats because: “A new warm coat says, ‘Boston cares about you.’ A new warm coat says ‘you are worthy of something that is yours.’ A new warm coat says ‘you are important to your community.’”

4. Room to Grow (Boston+)

Probably one of the most well know agencies in the Boston area, the mission of Room to Grow is to build a strong foundation for babies (newborn through three years old) in poverty. Check out their donation lists.

5. Cradles to Crayons (Boston+)

Cradles to Crayons provides children from birth through age 12 living in homeless or low-income situations with essential items such coats, clothing, shoes, toys, books, and school supplies. Check out their donation instructions and locations.

6. Women’s Lunch Place (Boston)

Women’s Lunch Place supports women experiencing hunger, homelessness, and poverty. They accept a variety of in-kind donations including winter gear.

7. Friday Night Supper Program (Boston)

The Friday Night Supper Program provides a warm nutritious meal to anyone in need in a safe and dignified environment every Friday night. They also accept clothing donations.

8. St. Francis House (Boston)

St. Francis House offers basic, rehabilitative, and housing services to hundreds of individuals experiencing homelessness every single day, 365 days a year. Their clothing donation program is up and running again.

9. Catie’s Closet (Boston + Dracut)

Catie’s Closet provides a unique solution to kids in need by setting up “stores/walk in closets” right in schools so children in pre-K through grade 12 have immediate access to what they need. You can donate clothing and toiletry items at their drop-off locations or by mail.

Where to donate and receive winter gear in Massachusetts

10. Solutions at Work (Cambridge + Dorchester)

Solutions at Work provides individuals and families with resources and opportunities to strengthen their self-confidence, achieve self-sufficiency, and participate in helping others and are accepting clothing donations.

11.Circle of Hope (Needham)

Circle of Hope collects, sorts, and distributes new and gently used items for Boston-area shelters and clinics. Learn how their most urgent donation needs are.

12. Second Chances (Multiple locations)

With several drop off locations in Somerville, Cambridge and Watertown, Second Chances makes donating gently used clothing and winter gear really easy.

13. Burlington Coat Factory (Multiple Locations)

Families can donate coats for men, women, or children at most Burlington Coat Factory locations; this is the 15th year of their coat drive.

14. One Warm Coat (Multiple locations)

One Warm Coat is an aggregate site that lists donation locations by state (just pop in your zip code to find donation locations). While it may take a bit more digging, you’ll surely find a coat donation location somewhere close to you.

15. Anton’s Cleaners Coats for Kids (Multiple locations)

Anton’s Cleaners Coats for Kids program has basically ensured that I will give them all my dry cleaning business! Now through January 8, drop kids and adults winter coats at all Anton’s Cleaners, Enterprise Bank, and Jordan’s Furniture locations, and Anton’s will professionally clean the coats and distribute them through the Coats for Kids Distribution Partners network.

16. Your neighborhood

There are likely options right in your neighborhood! Check with schools in your town or your town/city hall about donation/pickup options. Also, sometimes police/fire stations or other community organizations will host donation drives.