Toshiba distributor Cool Designs is supporting Crisis Christmas by becoming a collection station for local charity, the Winter Coat Amnesty.

The collection station, at CDL’s Sunderland head office, is taking delivery of donated warm winter coats, hats, scarves, gloves and other items of warm clothing in the winter season.

CDL has joined dozens of local businesses and organisations across the North East, including Co-op shops, in volunteering its premises as a collection point for people to bring unwanted items.

The Winter Coat Amnesty works in partnership with Crisis Christmas to distribute the anticipated thousands of items of donated winter clothing to homeless and vulnerable people across the region.

Managing director of CDL Darrel Birkett said: “The Winter Coat Amnesty was born in November 2011, as a way to encourage local people to donate unwanted items of winter clothing, and distribute them to homeless, isolated and vulnerable people.

“Since then, the campaign has grown hugely with the help and co-operation of local businesses. Along with the unprecedented generosity of the general public, this has transformed the humble idea into an important annual event.”

Organised by two of the founding members and long-time Crisis Christmas volunteers, Andy Brown and Claire Paczko, the appeal has garnered many thousands of unwanted items of warm winter clothing since its inception.

As part of the company’s Christmas initiative, CDL is also purchasing and donating 150 toys, to be given as presents to children in difficult circumstances.

Darrel will be loading up a van on December 30, to deliver the presents to a children’s party at a local respite centre.