For nearly four decades, United Way Peterborough & District has been organizing the annual Coats For Community winter clothing drive, collecting and distributing tens of thousands of winter garments and essential items.  With the demand for winter gear increasing each year, our partnership with PATH will allow the program to reach even more people who need help staying warm during the winter months.

Public Donations

Donations will be accepted throughout the fall, winter and spring at PATH:

  • Wednesdays: 9 AM – 3 PM
  • Saturdays: 10 AM – 3 PM
  • Location: 385 Lansdowne Street East, Peterborough

Public Pick Up Days

The majority of donated items will be distributed through agencies in the City and County of Peterborough, but PATH will also be open for community members individually to pick up coats the first Saturday of each month:

  • First Saturday of Each Month: November 1, December 6, January 3, February 7, March 7, April 4
  • Location: PATH – 385 Lansdowne Street East, Peterborough

Get Involved

Organizations interested in hosting a donation bin or contributing supplies can email: info@pathptbo.org


A Legacy of Giving: Coats For Community

Thank You!

Your generous donations, to our 2023 Coats for our Community initiative allowed 527 people to come into the beautiful, centrally located space donated by Murray Street Baptist Church on Saturday, November 4th to select the winter coats, snow pants and accessories they needed to keep their families warm this winter!

A total of 1844 coats, jackets, snow pants and winter wear were distributed locally along with 1272 handknit mittens, hats and accessories generously provided by the Mitts for Kids volunteer knitters!

We want to send a special thank you to St. Vincent De Paul Thrift Stores in  Peterborough and Lakefield, for once again, sharing their space for our 2023 collection, Global Point Logistics for their amazing storage facility and truck rental, PVNC Catholic District School Board and Windsor’s Dry Cleaners who volunteered to be a community collection point in the month leading up to our collection weekend and to IG Wealth Management, St. Anne’s  School, St. Paul’s in Lakefield and Suzi Home Maker who coordinated staff collection drives to drop off!

A huge thank you to the Mitts for Kids knitters who distributed a record number of warm, made with love accessories: Ennismore Senior Knitting Club, Carole Berry, Jean Cameron, Linda Chopping, Lynn Creech, Karen Drinkwalter, Debbie East, Carey Hogan, Paulette Packingham, Jill Smallwood, Margaret Tippett, Janet Twigg

Social Posts

✨ We’re back in the office and kicking off our first work day of 2026 with the best kind of news! Celebrating our December 50/50 winner and the incredible community that makes moments like this possible. 

❤️ Our monthly 50/50 draws are a growing way to support our 20 local partner agencies while giving Ontario residents the opportunity to win big.

🎟️ The January draw is live now - tickets are on sale through the link in our bio, and our next draw takes place on January 30 at 1:00 PM. 

*Must be 18+ to purchase tickets. Ontario residents only.
From all of us at the Peterborough & District United Way, we are wishing everyone a safe and happy New Year! We're excited to continue our work with our amazing donors, partners, and volunteers in the years to come.

📅 Reminder: The tax deadline for charitable contributions is December 31.

Show your #LocalLove and donate to United Way Peterborough & District to help build community & change lives. 

Consider donating today, visit the link in our bio to learn more about our work and ways to give.
2025, what a year! 

We’re so grateful for the generosity, care, and community spirit that made these moments possible.

As the year comes to a close, this is also a friendly reminder that gifts made by December 31 are eligible for 2025 charitable tax receipting. Thank you for supporting your neighbours, today and all year long.

Learn more about the ways to give at the link in our bio.

Reminder: there is a secure mailbox located at the front of our office (277 Stewart St.) checked daily.
🚨Reaching Home Funding Applications Are Now Open!🚨

United Way Peterborough & District is happy to share that we are accepting applications from agencies for the Reaching Home program, on behalf of the Government of Canada.

👉 What is Reaching Home? It is a community-based program aimed at preventing and reducing homelessness across Canada. This program provides funding to communities to help them address their local homelessness needs.

Applications close January 22nd, 2026. Find eligibility requirements and full application details on our website:
🔗 uwpeterborough.ca/reaching-home/ or follow the link in our bio
To our neighbours,

As we head into the holiday season, we want to take a moment to say thank you. Your generosity, kindness, and commitment to community have meant so much to us throughout the year.

Whether you gave your time, made a donation, attended an event, or simply showed up for local causes, you helped make Peterborough & District a stronger, more caring place.

As of 12:00 pm today (Dec. 24), our office will be closed for the holidays and will reopen on January 5. During this time, we hope you’re able to slow down, rest, and enjoy meaningful moments with the people who matter most.

From all of us at United Way Peterborough & District, we wish you and your loved ones a warm, peaceful holiday season and a new year filled with hope, connection, and possibility.
After more than a decade of dedicated leadership, we are sharing the news that our CEO, Jim Russell, will retire in July 2026.

Since joining United Way Peterborough & District in 2011, Jim has been a steady and passionate force for community change, leading more than $36 million in revenue generation and championing critical work to address poverty, homelessness, and income inequality across our region.

Under Jim’s leadership, United Way Peterborough and District has strengthened its role as a trusted community partner through impactful research, including Housing is Fundamental, multiple Point-in-Time Counts, and The Gap reports on income adequacy and living wages.

Jim’s commitment to Peterborough & District, and to building a more equitable, resilient community, has left a lasting mark. We are deeply grateful for his leadership and look forward to celebrating his legacy over the coming months. 

Please join us in congratulating Jim on his incredible contributions to our community!
🎄✨Festive sweaters described in one word only!

We brought the holiday spirit in support of our @unitedwayptbo workplace campaign!

Which one’s your favourite? 🤨

#UnitedWayPTBO #BuildingCommunity
As the holidays approach, we wanted to share a quick update on our office hours.

Our office will be closing early on Wednesday and Thursday of this week as we celebrate the season with our staff, board and committees. We will then be closed beginning at noon on Christmas Eve (Dec. 24) through January 5, returning to regular office hours in the new year.

If you or someone you know needs support during this time, please remember that help is available by calling 211, 24/7.

Wishing you a safe, restful, and joyful holiday season. 🎄✨
Looking for food support this holiday season? 

Please visit the City of Peterborough website for information on food banks and free meals. 

peterborough.ca/foodcalendar
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