MOBBERLEY Primary School has been overwhelmed by the response to its appeal for coats to keep the homeless warm this winter.

A total of 180 coats were brought in by pupils and residents to support the Wrap Up Manchester campaign.

The campaign collects old and unwanted coats from the public and gives them to those in need during the winter months.

The coats are distributed via homeless shelters, refugee centres, elderly organisations, women’s refuges, children's centres and other charities.

Knutsford Guardian:

The school collection was organised by Year 6 teacher Clare Kozyra and the Year 6 young leaders.

“We have collected a staggering 180 coats, and I am so overwhelmed by the response to this campaign,” said Clare.

“The temperature has really dropped these last few days, and by organising this collection I hope we can help make people in need feel more comfortable this winter.

Knutsford Guardian:

“I am very grateful to everyone who has kindly donated a coat and shown compassion to those in need.

“We decided to widen what we call our local community and reach out to help problems facing our nearest large city at winter-time.

“We are living out the message of the Young Leaders programme, which is love your neighbour as yourself.

“As a faith school we have six Christian values which we all try and follow, and this collection is an example of compassion.”

Knutsford Guardian:

Deputy head teacher Karen Whalley said: “This has been a great opportunity for our Young Leaders at Mobberley C of E Primary to demonstrate our Christian values and help those less fortunate than themselves this winter.

“The Young Leaders and our whole school are so grateful to the community for their generosity and support with this winter campaign to spread warmth and ‘Wrap up Manchester’.”

The Wrap Up project which collects coats to be redistributed to homeless people across the UK, run by charity Human Appeal, has been inviting people to donate their used coats for two weeks now.

The project has collected nearly 2,500 coats across Manchester, Birmingham, Leicester and Glasgow, and was due to finish today, Friday.

However, Safestore have agreed to accept any final donations this weekend.

Abid Shah, who is running the coat drive at Human Appeal, said: “As the weather has turned cold this past week people’s thoughts and sympathies have turned to those who are sleeping out in the cold and donations have increased hugely.

"We are so pleased to have had nearly so many generous donations so far. It would be amazing if we could get over the 3,000 mark this weekend.

"This year we need men’s women’s and children’s coats - especially men’s coats.

"People are invited to bring their coats to one of the drop-off points in November and they will be re-homed in the following weeks."

Coats can be dropped off with volunteers at one of the participating Safestore storage centres until November 24.

Safestore Stockport Bryant

Safestore Manchester Old Trafford

Safestore Manchester Central

Safestore Altrincham

Safestore Birmingham Central

Safestore Glasgow Southside

Human Appeal Leicester