Every year, Lower Mainland REALTORS® organize a Blanket Drive to collect blankets and warm and/or waterproof clothing to help people in need stave off the winter cold and wet.

The Drive is coordinated by about 75 REALTOR® volunteers and there are over 100 real estate offices across the Fraser Valley, Greater Vancouver and Chilliwack and district serving as drop-off locations. Thousands of REALTORS® and members of the public generously donate to the cause.

Last year, in the entire Lower Mainland, they helped to donate and collect an astounding 4,000+ bags of blankets and clothing — bags the size of green garbage bags stuffed full.

Anyone can donate anytime between November 30 and December 7 (during business hours) at one of 41 locations in the Fraser Valley listed below.

Please refrain from dropping donations off before the Drive begins, as realty offices don't have adequate storage.

Please donate ANY of these items, either NEW or gently used and clean:

• blankets, sleeping bags, bedding (sheets and blankets)- ideally NEW
• winter jackets, coats, rain coats, rain ponchos, windbreakers (men, women and children)
• sweaters, long-sleeved shirts, turtlenecks, sweatshirts, fleece vests, pullovers
• pants, sweatpants, jeans, slacks
• long underwear, scarves, hats, mitts, gloves, toques
• NEW underware and socks
• shoes, boots, especially waterproof
• any clothing offering warmth and/or protection from the elements

Please do not donate household items, summer clothing, furniture, books, toys, toiletries, etc. Save them for another time — this is a drive for warm clothing and bedding for people who are homeless! Also, our charities do not have the funds to launder these items, so ask that they are clean and useable, so as to avoid items being recycled or thrown out.

Fraser Valley charities and drop-off locations are listed here. Greater Vancouver and Chilliwack and district drop-off locations can be found at www.blanketdrive.ca.