Winter Clothes Appeal in Kashmir – Protect Families from the Bitter Cold

When Warmth Becomes a Luxury

In the quiet valleys of Azad Kashmir, the beauty of winter hides a brutal truth. As snow falls gently over the pine trees of Neelum and Leepa, families brace for a season of survival. For many, warmth is not guaranteed — it is a privilege.

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We update the data above as we deliver the project. Our first small scale distribution is on 14th October.

Each year, the biting cold creeps into the thin walls of mountain homes. Children sleep under damp quilts. Mothers wrap themselves in torn shawls. Elderly men sit beside flickering stoves that burn their last pieces of firewood.

This is winter in Kashmir — a season that tests faith, patience, and the strength of communities living at the edge of endurance.

Kashmir Welfare Foundation’s Warm Clothes Appeal is born from one simple mission: to wrap the valley in compassion, one family at a time.

A Volunteer’s Journey – Through the Snow to Neelum

When the roads close, the real work begins.

Sajid Hussain, one of our field volunteers, recalls his journey to a village near Tao Butt in Neelum Valley last winter. With snow piled high against the mountain paths, he and his team carried sacks of donated clothes — coats, shawls, gloves, and socks — on foot for nearly five hours.

“We couldn’t drive beyond a certain point,” he said. “We walked through snow, our boots sinking deep. The air was freezing, but the thought of those waiting for us kept us warm.”

At the village, they were welcomed by families who had been isolated for weeks. Children gathered around with excitement as new woollen clothes were distributed. One little boy named Haris, just seven years old, clutched his first proper winter jacket — a bright red one — and whispered, “Now I can go outside again.”

That single moment captured what this appeal truly means: restoring dignity, joy, and safety.

The Hidden Hardship Behind Kashmir’s Winter Beauty

The snow-capped mountains of Azad Jammu and Kashmir attract visitors from around the world, yet for locals, they bring months of hardship.

According to the AJ&K Statistical Yearbook 2024, over 72% of rural households in the northern valleys rely on wood or dried cow dung for heating. As forests thin and resources deplete, these methods become both unsafe and unsustainable.

Villages in Leepa Valley, Sharda Valley, Shounter Valley, and Gurez Valley face severe road blockages for 4–5 months each year, cutting them off from essential supplies. Hospitals become unreachable, schools remain closed, and families are left to survive on whatever they have — often without proper winter clothing.

• Children are at highest risk: hypothermia and pneumonia rise by 32% each winter (AJK Health Dept., 2024).
• Women and elderly individuals suffer due to lack of insulation and mobility during snowstorms.
• Many low-income households share one blanket among four or more family members.

What most of us in the UK see as an “extra coat” is, for a Kashmiri family, the line between comfort and catastrophe.

How Your Donation Helps

When you donate to the Warm Clothes Appeal, your support directly funds:

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By donating Sadaqah, Zakat, or through Regular Giving, UK donors can make a lasting difference each winter.

“Each pack costs less than a dinner out — but gives a family weeks of warmth and hope.”
— Murtaza Ali, Field Volunteer, Muzaffarabad Team

Stories from the Valley – Arifa’s Family in Tao Butt

Last January, when the snow in Tao Butt reached nearly three feet, a mother named Arifa used her own shawl to wrap her two-year-old daughter at night. Their small wooden home had no insulation, and the nearest road was buried under snow.

When our team arrived, Arifa’s hands were numb from the cold. She received a winter pack containing thick coats, blankets, and gloves. Tears welled up in her eyes as she said:

“For months, I had prayed for warmth. I didn’t know help would come from so far away — from people who’ve never even seen our village.”

It’s stories like Arifa’s that fuel this campaign — the unseen connections between UK donors and Kashmir’s forgotten valleys.

From the UK to Kashmir – The Power of Community

Every winter, supporters across the UK hold collection drives, donate new or gently used clothing, and fund shipments to Azad Kashmir. From Birmingham to Bradford, from Leicester to Luton, communities come together to ensure no family faces the cold alone.

Local mosques and schools have joined hands with the Kashmir Welfare Foundation, making this appeal one of the most impactful winter efforts in the region. Whilst we can’t take used clothing, we can use your donated funds to purchase winter items in Azad Kashmir. This will also help support the local economy too.

In 2024, over 3,500 clothing packs were distributed across Neelum and Haveli. This year, the goal is 10,000 packs — but only with your help can we reach it.

Why Give Now

Winter in Kashmir starts early and hits hard. The first major snowfall often arrives by late November, leaving little time for preparation.

Each week of delay can mean the difference between delivery and inaccessibility — once roads close, reaching remote areas becomes nearly impossible.

“We plan distribution before the snow fully settles,” says Tahir Zia, one of the logistics coordinators. “If donations arrive in time, we can send trucks deep into the valleys before they freeze over.”

That’s why donating early matters most. Every pound you give now ensures packs are packed, labelled, and ready to dispatch before it’s too late.

How Your Warmth Changes Lives

Your donation does more than provide clothing — it restores dignity and hope.

• A new coat helps a father continue working outdoors to earn for his family.
• A warm jumper allows a child to walk to school in the frost.
• A blanket gives an elderly grandmother comfort during long winter nights.

These small acts of giving ripple through entire communities.

And when you add Gift Aid, every £10 you donate becomes £12.50 — at no extra cost to you — amplifying the warmth you share.

Challenges on the Ground – Delivering Hope in Harsh Conditions

Kashmir Welfare Foundation’s teams work through dangerous terrains to reach the unreachable. In winter 2024, several convoys faced landslides along the Neelum–Kel highway. Volunteers often travel on foot where vehicles can’t pass.

Our storage centres in Muzaffarabad, Leepa, and Rawalakot are stocked with emergency supplies — ready for rapid dispatch when weather conditions allow.

Local partnerships with district authorities and community elders ensure fair distribution and transparent reporting, with every pack logged and tracked.

Transparency and Accountability

We understand that donors in the UK want assurance that their money truly reaches those in need.

That’s why each Warm Clothes Appeal donation supports verified distributions across AJ&K, documented with photographs, local witness reports, and impact assessments.

In Winter 2024:

• 8,547 winter kits distributed
• 19 villages reached
• 27 volunteer teams deployed
• 94% of aid reached within 30 days of donation

Your generosity turns into measurable action — tracked, recorded, and shared with honesty.

Faith, Compassion, and the Reward of Giving

For Muslims, providing warmth is not just an act of charity — it’s an act of Iman. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:

“Whoever relieves the hardship of a believer in this world, Allah will relieve his hardship on the Day of Resurrection.” (Muslim 2699)

When you give warmth in the name of Sadaqah, Zakat, or Sadaqah Jariyah, you are protecting life — a deeply beloved act in Islam.

Each coat, each blanket, and each glove becomes a silent form of ongoing reward.

Voices from the Field

“We see children running in the snow barefoot, smiling when they get their first shoes. That moment stays with you forever.”
— Imran Yousaf, Volunteer, Leepa Sector

“People often think small donations can’t make a difference. But one scarf can stop frostbite. One quilt can save a baby’s life.”
— Samina Khan, Community Worker, Haveli

Join the Warmth Movement

When the biting wind sweeps through the mountains of Azad Kashmir, it does not choose who will suffer.
From the snow-covered homes in Neelum Valley to the isolated hamlets of Leepa and Shounter, families huddle together, waiting for warmth that may never come. Mothers wrap their children in thin shawls, elders sit beside dying embers, and fathers trek for hours through frozen paths hoping to find help — any help.

But there is hope — and it begins with you.

Thousands are waiting for someone like you to act.

Your donation, big or small, can change the outcome of a single freezing night. Every £10 winter pack or £40 food pack you give through the Kashmir Welfare Foundation becomes a shield against the deep freeze. Each Sadaqah winter donation you make travels through our volunteers to reach those trapped in snowbound valleys.

Every time you give, you are delivering humanitarian aid to Kashmir — warmth, dignity, and a message that they are not forgotten.

Every second matters.
Every penny counts.
Every blanket, coat, or pair of gloves can mean the difference between survival and loss. Even a single act of kindness — a jumper, a blanket, a coat — can echo through generations, reminding them that compassion still exists in this cold world.

Join the Warmth Movement today.
Be the reason a child sleeps safely.
Be the reason a mother smiles again.
Be the reason Kashmir endures this winter with hope.

Together, we can melt the cold.
Together, we can protect the people of Kashmir from another harsh season.
Together, we can bring light, warmth, and mercy back to the valleys that need us most.

United Kingdom Donors – Your Impact Reaches Farther

Every donation made from the UK doesn’t just buy clothing — it builds a bridge of brotherhood across continents.

From London to Leepa Valley, your compassion cuts through the cold. You are the unseen hand that lights a fire in a home that would otherwise remain dark.

Let your generosity this winter be the reason a child sleeps warm tonight.

Wrap Kashmir in Your Warmth

Winter doesn’t wait — and neither should compassion.

The mountains will soon turn white again. But together, we can ensure that every family, every child, and every elder has what they need to survive the season.

Join the Warm Clothes Appeal and be the warmth someone desperately needs.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What items are included in a Warm Clothes Pack?
Each pack includes coats, scarves, jumpers, gloves, socks, and blankets — enough to protect one family of five from severe winter conditions.

2. Can I donate used clothes from the UK?
No. Historically, when clothes collections were organised in the UK, a large portion of items were unusable. Storing and shipping them also required hiring warehouse space and paying for freight, which made the process costly and less efficient.

We have therefore chosen to focus entirely on online donations, allowing us to source warm clothing locally in Azad Kashmir and deliver it quickly to the families who need it most. This ensures better quality, faster response, and zero wastage.

3. Does my donation qualify for Zakat or Sadaqah?
Yes. Donations through the Warm Clothes Appeal can be given as Sadaqah or Zakat, following Islamic charitable principles.

4. How does Kashmir Welfare Foundation ensure transparency?
You will be able to see detailed reports and case studies in our blog section. We make an extra effort to publish updates here so that anyone who truly wishes to learn more can access the information at any time.

This approach ensures transparency without overwhelming donors with mass mailouts. It also helps us identify engaged readers and supporters who genuinely want to follow the progress of our projects. Many of our donors are international, and publishing these updates online means that everyone, everywhere, can see the impact their kindness has made.

5. Why should I donate before winter starts?
Early donations allow supplies to be transported before snow blocks mountain roads, ensuring families receive warmth on time.