What to Donate This Winter: Coats, Blankets and Hygiene Kits Needed
What should you do when the temperature drops below 30º? Try donating to the people who need it most.
As Winter approaches rapidly and temperatures drop below the 30º mark, the need for warm clothing, temporary shelter, and life-saving supplies becomes more urgent than ever. Donating critical winter supplies can make a significant difference in the lives of people in need, helping them stay warm and safe during the most dangerous times of the year. What are the best things to donate when the weather outside is frightful? Start with the things you depend on the most.
Clothing and Outerwear
In order to help people living in the streets, in homeless shelters, or who may even have temporary shelter like tents or an abandoned building, warm clothing that can be worn in layers is a good place to start. Consider donating winter accessories and apparel like coats and jackets, winter gloves, knit beanies and winter hats, and thermal socks. Get a big cardboard box, duffle bag, or plastic bin, and start filling it with whatever you can afford to give away.
Of course, If you're like most people, you probably don't have a very large collection of winter clothing and accessories laying around the house that you can just give away without putting yourself at risk. If you don't have much winter clothing to give away in your own home, consider buying affordable wholesale winter apparel from Bags in Bulk.
The best place to shop for wholesale winter coats and accessories
Bags in Bulk is the internet's #1 place to shop for bulk and wholesale winter apparel. We even have specialty collections designed for Nonprofits, Charities, and Churches, Winter Clothing and Coat Drives, and much more. With a focus on quality, affordability, and convenience, Bags in Bulk has helped countless shelters, nonprofits, community groups, clothing drives, churches, and charities.
We take great pains to ensure that our merchandise is affordable enough to stretch tight budgets. In other words, our products are cheap, but they don't look or feel cheap. Our goal is to supply people in need with high quality merchandise, so you can feel good about the things you're donating. And speaking of donating, let's get back on track.
Socks, underwear, footwear, and apparel
Once you've covered the basics of winter clothing and accessories, now you can focus on some of the less obvious—but still much-needed essentials. These essentials include clean wholesale socks for adults and kids, bulk underwear for adults and kids, as well as a wide variety of bulk apparel and footwear like flip flops, slides, slip-on shoes, and much more. These essentials provide much-needed warmth and comfort. Your contributions can help equip shelters and community centers with vital supplies.
Go Beyond Clothing: Donate Shelter, Warmth, and Survival Essentials
When temperatures fall below 30º, staying warm is only part of the challenge. For people experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity, protection from the elements, safe sleep systems, and bulk quantities of hygiene supplies often matter just as much as coats and jackets—if not more. After clothing, the most impactful donations are the ones that help people survive outdoors, rest safely, and maintain dignity during extreme cold.
Bulk Outdoor and Camping Supplies
Wholesale Outdoor and camping supplies are practical, versatile donations that serve people living outside or in transitional environments. Items such as backpacks, duffle bags, tarps, ponchos, and hand warmers help individuals protect their belongings, retain body heat, and create safer temporary setups. Bulk outdoor gear is especially valuable because it can be distributed quickly and consistently by shelters, outreach teams, and nonprofits responding to cold-weather emergencies.
Wholesale Tents: Emergency Shelter That Saves Lives
A good tent can mean the difference between exposure and protection during freezing temperatures. For individuals without access to shelters—or when shelters are full—tents provide critical wind resistance, insulation, and privacy. Wholesale tents allow nonprofits, churches, and outreach programs to supply emergency shelter at scale, ensuring more people have a safe place to sleep when temperatures become dangerous.
Wholesale Sleeping Bags for Sub-Freezing Nights
Sleeping bags are one of the most essential cold-weather donations, particularly those rated for low temperatures. A high-quality sleeping bag helps retain body heat overnight, reducing the risk of hypothermia and frost-related injuries. When paired with tents or ground pads, sleeping bags create a complete sleep system that allows people to rest safely outdoors.
Donating sleeping bags in bulk enables organizations to prepare for sudden cold snaps and winter emergencies, ensuring no one is left without basic protection when temperatures drop overnight.
Bulk Blankets for Blanket Drives and Donating
Wholesale Blankets are among the most requested items at shelters and outreach programs during winter. They are easy to distribute, require no sizing, and can be used in shelters, vehicles, tents, or emergency warming centers. Bulk blankets for donating provide immediate warmth and comfort and are often layered with sleeping bags or coats for added insulation. Bulk blankets are constantly in need.
Homeless Hygiene Kits and Toiletries
Cold weather makes hygiene more challenging, but it does not make it less important. Hygiene kits and homeless care kits help protect physical health, prevent illness, and restore dignity during an already difficult season. We also carry a wide selection of individual toiletries in bulk quantities because they're perfect for adding to blessing bags and homeless care kits. We often take for granted items like toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, deodorant, wipes, lip balm, and lotion, but these travel-size toiletries are critical for daily care—and can often save as many lives a coat, clean socks, or blankets. Bags in Bulk pre-assembled hygiene kits are particularly effective for outreach teams, allowing them to provide immediate support during cold-weather checks and emergency distributions.
How to Donate: Tips for Maximum Impact
Know that you know what you're going to donate, it's time to figure out where you're going to donate it, and how. To donate effectively, start by researching local charities and shelters. Each organization may have specific needs. Contact them to understand their guidelines and preferred items. If you're donating used clothing, shoes, and blankets, then make sure to follow cleanliness guidelines to prevent the spread of disease and germs:
- Clean and inspect each piece of clothing before donating. Ensure all items are in good condition. This helps maintain the dignity and comfort of those receiving your donations.
- Consider donating wholesale coats and jackets. Purchasing in bulk maximizes your impact. It allows you to provide for more individuals in need during cold spells.
- Some organizations offer pick-up services. Inquire about this option for your bulk donations. It can simplify the process and save you time.
(Avoiding these issues are another great reason to donate brand new wholesale merchandise from Bags in Bulk, because it doesn't need to be cleaned or checked for mites, MRSA, and other spreadable contagions).
Tips for more impactful donations:
- Research local charity needs
- Ensure items are clean and functional
- Donate in bulk to reach more people
- Utilize pick-up services, if available
- Thoughtful donations help create a warmer, more compassionate community. Your efforts can make a big difference.
- Look for homeless shelters, women's and family shelters, harm reduction organizations, soup kitchens, respite shelters, and other local charities.
- Community centers, especially centers for older folks, and organizations like Meals on Wheels are a good place to make contact.
- Charities dedicated to helping the homeless are also key. They can ensure your donations provide maximum warmth and protection to the people who need it most.
Starting your own community clothing drive, coat drive, blanket drive, or soup kitchen
If you can't find organizations in your area who are accepting donations, then consider connecting with your local church, civic group, municipal government, EMS and Fire Departments, and other concerned citizens, and organize your own Winter Clothing Drive. It's not as difficult as it may sound, and starting a winter clothing drive can amplify your impact far beyond what you can do on your own. Follow these steps:
- Plan: Set clear goals and deadlines.
- Promote: Use social media and community boards.
- Collect: Choose convenient drop-off locations.
- Distribute: Partner with local charities for effective distribution.
- Organizing a drive also fosters community spirit and collective goodwill.
Armed now with loads of much-needed supplies, a charitable goal, and loads of ideas for how to help people and do good in your community, you're well on your way to changing lives and helping the people who need it most. And who knows? If you have goodness in your heart and a community that has your back, you might just save some lives this winter. God bless, and happy holidays from Bags in Bulk!