Eighty-two winter coats are on the way to local people in need thanks to efforts of Year 2 Berwick Campus student Sahara Wickramasinghe.

Sahara decided to launch her own charity drive 18 months ago after a visit to the Melbourne CBD with her parents. “I saw people lying down without a coat and they looked cold,” she said.

After creating a poster and distributing it to family and friends, Sahara was delighted with the amount of donations she received. This week she presented the coats to Beaconhills College’s Head of Citizenship and Service, Clare Tuohy, to add to the Beacon of Hope Winter Coat Appeal.

They have now gone Casey North Community Information and Support Service where they will be distributed to local families.