In an effort to help the homeless population, a French organization is urging people to hang up their spare clothes outdoors.
The organization, called Force Comm'UNE, launched their efforts in Cergy, a suburb of Paris. They're hoping that people will leave out warm clothing, such as pants or jackets.
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Those participating are asked to put the clothes on hangers and put a waterproof cover over the items, according The Observers. People can also leave notes, such as "I'm not lost, I'm for you if you're cold," to explain why the clothing is left outside.
A French organisation has come up with an original way of getting people to donate warm clothes to the homeless: by asking them to simply hang them up in the street. https://t.co/s1jXexwP6y pic.twitter.com/TQ1X0QVfcy
— The Observers (@Observers) March 16, 2018
The same idea has also been rolled out in other Parisian cities and in countries around the globe. In Greensboro, North Carolina, a ministry designated a fence to be used for an area to hang up clothes for those in need. They dubbed their effort "Project Warmth," WFMY reports.
"We have a fence and we created a banner and all of a sudden it took off," Mike Murray, director of 16 Cents Ministry, told WFMY. "It amazes me because I drive by here frequently and there will be one item on there and then we turn around and come back and there will be 15 items on there."
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Another effort, which was not as formal as the Greensboro one, was carried out in parts of British Columbia, Canada.
"I am not lost," a note inside a zip-locked bag says, Huffington Post reports. "I was made to keep you warm. Feel free to take me if you are cold.... enjoy your walk... and the rest of your day."
The efforts have not only helped the homeless, it has also taught people about the importance of assisting those in need. Tara Smith-Atkins had her daughter and seven of her friends wrap clothes around poles in Halifax, Canada.
"They definitely learned the importance of it," Smith-Atkins told CBC. "When we got back in the car after an hour on the street, they were all freezing and crying for the heater to be on and complaining because they were cold. And they were bundled up."
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