Anaconda & XTM Performance Drive 8th Consecutive ‘Heat The Homeless’ Appeal This Winter

Anaconda is proud to be once again partnering with leading Australian snow brand, XTM Performance, and Vinnies for the 8th consecutive Heat the Homeless appeal this winter.

An estimated 122,000+ people across Australia are classified as homeless or marginally housed on any given night in Australia, with 55.9% being male, 44.1% being female and 23% being aged 12-24 years old. XTM started Heat the Homeless back in 2016, working with over 133 retailers who host donation boxes. Since then, XTM has received over 32,000 jacket donations. This equates to 27.2 tonnes of clothing being diverted from landfill.

The Heat the Homeless appeal urges community members to donate their quality, pre-loved jackets to warm those in need. A golden rule: If you'd give it to a friend or family member, then it's good enough to donate. To donate, just drop your pre-loved jacket into the donation box at an Anaconda store. Your donated jackets will be counted, collected and stored ready for a local charity pick-up who will distribute them. Our partner charities directly hand out jacket donations to all people experiencing homelessness, sleeping rough and needing warmth.

A partner since 2017, Anaconda stores across the nation have acted as the collection points for pre-loved snow jackets, puffers and fleece jumpers with donations distributed to the homeless with the support of a network of up to 2,000 charities. Those without a pre-loved item of clothing but still wishing to donate can purchase a new snow jacket or puffer from Anaconda to be added directly to the collection.

XTM Performance founder Pete Forras says: "There are so many high-quality jackets that are purchased for a single ski season before being discarded after only a couple of weeks of wear. Rather than sending these jackets straight to landfill, we saw an opportunity to make a difference to the lives of the thousands of Australians sleeping rough throughout winter and we are so grateful to Anaconda for joining us on our mission to Heat the Homeless”.

Anaconda's CEO, Chris Lude, says: "As Australia's leading outdoor retailer, we're dedicated to helping millions of Aussie adventurers create lasting winter memories every year. For those doing it rough on our streets there is nowhere to escape the harshness of winter and with the current challenging economic climate, this is an incredibly difficult time. We're proud to continue to support XTM Performance in bringing a little bit of warmth to those that need it most".

Have a snow jacket or puffer you'd like to donate? Have the kids grown out of last year's ski gear? Find your local Anaconda store here.