Zakat Foundation Winter Relief 2026: Blankets, Coats and Heaters for Families in Need

Zakat Foundation of America is calling for support for its Winter Relief program. The organization says conflict, natural disasters, rising poverty and large-scale displacement leave many people facing the cold without adequate clothing, heating or shelter.

According to the foundation, its winter aid packages include blankets, coats, heaters, coal and firewood. They are distributed in Afghanistan, Gaza, Lebanon, Pakistan and the United States, among other places. The charity says the aim is to help people living in poverty get through the season “with dignity and safety.”

Winter Relief Impact: Last Winter’s Figures

Zakat Foundation reports that its previous winter campaign distributed 16,114 winter kits to 48,463 beneficiaries across nine countries. The organization says the kits go to refugees, orphans, widows and other vulnerable families. Depending on local needs, they contain items such as shoes, plastic sheeting for tents, mattresses, fuel and food.

The charity says refugees and stateless people living in tents are particularly exposed to winter weather. It reports that plastic sheeting is distributed to help keep shelters dry and warmer. It also describes conditions in northeast Syria, where displaced families in camps and informal settlements face temperatures near freezing.

Orphan and Refugee Winter Aid: Stories From the Field

The foundation highlights several families it says benefited from past winter distributions.

In Balkh, Afghanistan, Bi Bi Sharafat Noor, a 33-year-old housekeeper and sole provider for four children, received food supplies. Zakat Foundation says she told its staff the rice would feed her family for at least a month.

In Khiraj Kohli, Pakistan, a woman identified as Karman became disabled in the 2022 floods and supports a family of six. The organization says emergency relief helped the family endure the cold.

In Gaziantep, Türkiye, the foundation says a widow named Meryem, who is raising four orphaned children, received new winter clothing, including warm coats, for her children.

In Beirut, Lebanon, a 65-year-old woman named Rajaa Sweid, who lives with ten relatives, received a package containing food staples to help her household prepare for winter, according to the charity.

In Kashmir, India, the foundation says Beed Jaan, a 60-year-old widow living alone in a single-room mud house, received warm clothing through the program after going without protection from the cold.

The organization also says it supplied blankets and waterproofing materials to families in a Jordanian refugee camp, to keep rain out of tents and provide warmth.

How to Donate to Winter Relief

Donations can be made through the Zakat Foundation website. The organization says donors planning a gift of more than $50,000 by ACH bank transfer can contact the foundation for personalized support, while credit card donations go through the standard checkout.

Sources: Zakat Foundation of America, Winter Relief campaign page (zakat.org/winter)