The Giving Tree: A Community Warms Up with Coats

One woman's initiative is making a big difference: When Shani Katzelnik from Ra'anana began collecting used coats from her family and friends, she had a clear purpose in mind. 'I distributed some coats to people while walking around Tel Aviv and Ra'anana and hung the rest on a tree on Rothschild Boulevard in Tel Aviv, and at the corner of Borochov and Ahuza streets,' she explains.

Her heartwarming project launched about a month ago with a special social media page called 'The Giving Tree.' 'When winter hit, I stepped outside and was met with a blast of cold wind. I wondered how people without shelter were managing, and when I started gathering coats, the initiative really took off,' she recalls in an interview with 'Tzomet HaSharon - Ra'anana.'

She reports collecting about a hundred coats, with each person she asked reaching out to their friends or acquaintances to gather coats of various sizes and styles.

To her surprise, Shani's initiative became viral. 'Many people loved the idea and wanted to replicate it in their own cities. When I handed out coats on the street, the first question was always, How much does it cost? When I explained it was free, they were touched. I believe only those who needed them took them.'

Any coats left on the tree are collected by her to ensure people don't wear wet coats, and she plans to expand the initiative to other cities in the country. 'I will place coats where they are needed and requested, so people can come and take them directly,' she concludes.