The past few days have been especially cold here in Hungary’s capital, and during the winter months, many of the city’s homeless residents need extra assistance to keep warm. With this in mind, several Budapest-based businesses and volunteer organizations join forces in asking urban dwellers to provide necessary support for the needy – from hanging coats at designated public locales to tying scarves on the city’s trees to distributing heat-retaining blankets to those who live on the streets, here are three initiatives that anyone can join to give assistance to the disadvantaged in Budapest.

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Free Coat Hangers across town (“Szabadfogas”)

Several coatracks recently popped up on the streets countrywide, encouraging those who can spare some extra outerwear with them and hang the unwanted apparel on the rack, offering the warm garment to the city’s poverty-stricken residents, who are free to choose one. In Budapest, coat hangers are found at many of the city’s major junctions, including at Madách Square in front of Castro Bistro, at Móricz Zsigmond Square, at the Vígszínház, and at the Katona József Theater. This map shows the available racks in Budapest. For more details on the activity, check out the Szabadfogas program’s Facebook page.

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Scarves on trees

A variety of colorful scarves are draped on several trees across Budapest, but instead of serving as the city’s latest design elements, the wintertime accessories are available to be taken by those who need extra comfort during the cold months. This charitable initiative – originating from the USA-based Chase the Chill movement – now infiltrated several countries worldwide, including Hungary. Those who offer neck warmers for the deprived can include a message with the accessory, inviting anyone to claim ownership of the scarf. If you want to join the mission in Budapest, just dig into your wardrobe to find a scarf that you don't need anymore, and hang it on any of the trees across the city.

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ProvideHeat! (AdjMeleget!) by MagNet Bank

Hungary’s leading community bank promotes social responsibility all year long with donation programs and charitable services available for customers, and for those who visit MagNet Bank’s most innovative branch on Balassi Bálint Street that’s complete with an eco-friendly café. During winter, the financial institution hands out heat-retaining blankets made of special insulation foil for anyone who would like to distribute them among the city’s homeless residents. A fresh stock of these distinct covers, that help preserve 80-90% of body heat, will be available in all of the MagNet Bank branches in Budapest during the second part of January. For further updates, follow MagNet Bank’s Facebook page or check out their website.