take a collection up (from someone)(for someone or something)
to collect money from people for someone or something. Karen took a collection up from everyone in the office for Bill. Karen took up a collection for Bill from everyone in the office.
Request and gather donations, as in They were taking up a collection for the church that burned down, or The veterans' group takes up a collection every month of household goods and furniture. This idiom was first recorded in 1849.