Blankets and coats collected for refugees from Syria and Iraq

Here’s a great opportunity to clear out your closets and help refugees at the same time. Fairfax County is participating in a regional effort to collect clean, gently used blankets and coats for refugee families who fled war and terrorism in Syria and Iraq.

You can bring your items to the Mason Government Center, 6507 Columbia Pike, Annandale, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m-4:30 p.m., through Dec. 4, as well as other locations throughout Fairfax County.

There will also be a one-day blanket and coat collection on Dec. 5, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at several houses of worship, including the Annandale Stake Center, 3900 Howard St., Annandale.

The items will be shipped to Turkey and distributed to refugee families in January. This is the third year for the blanket drive, which is being coordinated by the Northern Virginia Regional Commission, and the first year coats (for infants through adults) are being collected. Nearly 18,000 blankets were sent to refugees last year.