Can you spare 10 minutes of your day to clear out your wardrobe of any unwanted coats and jackets for our winter coat drive initiative? 

In collaboration with Off Your Back a community foundation founded 20 years ago by St Catherine’s Old Girl, Ms Toni Joel (‘82), we are organising a winter coat drive to provide warmth and comfort to those in greatest need. 

We are looking for coats and jackets only (no other clothing items please) for men, women, and children. Off Your Back works closely with the Salvation Army who work directly with Melbourne’s homeless. These donated coats and jackets will go directly onto the backs of those who need them most during the cold Melbourne winter. 

To raise more awareness for our cause we will run a Coats on the Catwalk parade on the final day of Term 2, Thursday 23 June. Complete with a red carpet, Senior School students will walk the runway modelling their donated coats. The event will include special guest appearances from our School Captains and several teachers and will be emceed by Year 12 students Ciara Jenkins and Emma Froomes. Specific details are listed below: 

Date: Thursday 23 June
Time: Lunch
Location: School Hall 

Not only will this initiative provide much needed winter coats to those in need but also provides a sustainable clothing option for your wanted coats and jackets.

Off Your Back has donated close to 150,000 pre-loved coats to the most vulnerable in our community and we would like to use St Catherine’s amazing spirit of giving to increase their tally and help those who need it most.

The Off Your Back campaign forms part of the Initiative component of our Dark Blue Leadership Diploma, which is designed to help us prepare for potential leadership positions in Year 12. The Leadership Diploma encourages a student-run fundraiser within the School to help girls practise organising events with a direct goal, as well being an opportunity to give back to the community.

Organising and running our own initiative has helped us practise our communication skills with not only teachers, but outside of St Catherine’s, with organisations like Off Your Back. This is great preparation for becoming a leader as a Year 12 student and is a wonderful experience for what a leadership role could entail in the real world. It has allowed us to communicate and advocate for causes we are passionate about as well.