Help spread warmth this winter! The Ithaca Rotary Club’s 33rd annual Share the Warmth campaign is now underway, collecting new and gently used winter clothing across Tompkins County through November 24. Find a red collection bin near you and make a difference for neighbors in need this season.
As winter approaches in Tompkins County, the Rotary Club of Ithaca is once again inviting the community to come together in the spirit of generosity through its 33rd annual Share the Warmth campaign. Each year, this project provides hundreds of individuals and families with the essential clothing they need to stay warm through the cold months ahead, and it all happens thanks to the kindness of neighbors helping neighbors.
From now through November 24, community members are encouraged to donate clean, new, or gently used winter clothing at one of more than twenty drop-off locations throughout the area. The familiar red collection boxes are already out and waiting to be filled with coats, boots, mittens/gloves, hats, scarves, and blankets that will soon find new life keeping someone warm this season.
A Tradition Rooted in Community Service
Share the Warmth has become one of Rotary’s most beloved annual traditions. It began in 1987 on the Cornell University campus and expanded countywide in 1993. Since then, the project has grown into a large, multi-organization effort that exemplifies what community collaboration can accomplish.
“The beauty of Share the Warmth is that it brings people together. Rotary members, students, businesses, and volunteers all working toward the same goal,” said longtime organizer Richard Kops, a member of the Ithaca Rotary Club. “It’s about kindness in action. Every coat donated represents someone’s comfort and dignity through the winter.”
The campaign is coordinated by the Rotary Clubs of Ithaca, Dryden, and Trumansburg, working in partnership with Catholic Charities of Tompkins/Tioga, Cornell University, Ithaca College, Finger Lakes ReUse, and the Triphammer Partners LLC. Each organization plays an important role in collecting, sorting, and distributing donations efficiently and fairly to those who need them most.
Where to Donate
This year’s campaign features a wide range of convenient drop-off sites throughout Tompkins County. Donors can find collection boxes at:
- Agway Ace Hardware
- Beginnings Credit Union
- Cornell Building Locations
- Island Health & Fitness
- Ithaca College Campus Center Lobby
- Ithaca Community Childcare Center
- Kendal at Ithaca
- Kinney Drugs in Dryden
- N.E.T. Catholic Churches
- Northeast Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
- P&C Fresh
- St. Catherine of Siena Church
- St. James Catholic Church in Trumansburg
- Seneca Place/Hilton Garden Inn
- Triphammer Marketplace
- Trumansburg Shur-Save
- United Way of Tompkins County
- YMCA of Tompkins County
These sites are accepting donations through Monday, November 24. Whether it’s a child’s winter coat that no longer fits, a pair of gently worn snow boots, or a new set of mittens, every contribution helps keep someone safe and warm this winter.
How Donations Are Distributed
Once the clothing drive begins, ReUse and Rotary volunteers pick up the clothing from each site and deliver it to a sorting location, where volunteers sort and bag the items. The sorted clothing is then delivered to Catholic Charities of Tompkins/Tioga (by ReUse), which gives the items away free of charge at its Samaritan Center on Buffalo Street in downtown Ithaca.
Distribution will take place November 10, 12–14 and 17–21 (Monday through Friday), from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Anyone in need of winter clothing is welcome to stop by during that time.
All items should be in good repair and clean, ready to wear or use. Outerwear for both children and adults are needed, including coats, snow pants, boots, hats, scarves, gloves/mittens, and blankets.
A Small Act with a Big Impact
Over the decades, thousands of coats, boots, and blankets have been shared through this initiative. Each donation carries with it a message of compassion and, often, the start of a new connection between people who may never meet but are united through generosity.
“It’s one of those projects where you can see the impact right here in our own community,” said Rotarian Loralyn Light, who co-chairs the effort. “When we help someone stay warm, we’re doing more than giving a coat. We’re sharing hope, care, and belonging.”
The program’s success each year depends entirely on the community’s involvement, both individuals who donate and local businesses and organizations who volunteer to host collection bins. It’s a model of cooperation that embodies the Rotary motto: “Service Above Self.”
Keeping the Spirit of Rotary Alive
For over 30 years, Share the Warmth has proven that small, consistent acts of service can make a profound difference. Each November, as temperatures drop and the collection bins appear around town, residents are reminded of the power of giving and of how strong the Tompkins County community can be when it works together.
The Rotary Club of Ithaca invites everyone to participate in this year’s campaign and help ensure that every person in our community can stay warm this winter.
