A TAMESIDE homelessness charity is urging supporters to think twice before donating items in a bid to cut costly waste disposal bills.
Emmaus Mossley has launched its ‘Sift Before You Gift’ campaign to encourage donors to give only items that can be resold, repaired or recycled. The charity, which runs a popular Second-hand Superstore, relies on good-quality donations to fund its work supporting people who have experienced homelessness.
However, the rising cost of disposing of unsellable goods is now draining vital funds – with waste bills reaching around £1,500 each month.
Despite efforts to repair, upcycle and recycle donations, unusable items such as broken furniture, damaged crockery, incomplete toys and worn-out clothing continue to cause problems. The charity is asking supporters to check items before donating and to avoid leaving goods outside the store when it is closed.
Alison Hill, Chief Executive Officer at Emmaus Mossley, said:
“We’re incredibly grateful to the vast majority of our supporters who do sift before they gift and only donate the items they know will be of value to our charity.
“The challenge is helping everyone understand the items we can and cannot accept, and why. Gone are the days when charities could take anything and everything – disposal costs are ever increasing, and for small charities like ours those funds are much better directed to supporting people on their journey away from homelessness.”
Emmaus Mossley provides a home, companionship and tailored support for up to 26 people at any one time, helping them to rebuild confidence, gain new skills and move forward in life.
The ‘Sift Before You Gift’ campaign will run throughout September, reminding people to donate responsibly so that more funds can be channelled into supporting vulnerable people in Tameside.
For full details of items that can be donated, visit: emmaus.org.uk/mossley/donate-goods