We sometimes get those well intended gifts over Christmas that end up in the back of a cupboard or hidden away in a drawer, but this year don’t hide them away, let us put them to good use and support the homeless in Wolverhampton.
Enjoy Wolverhampton BID (Business Improvement District) in partnership with City of Wolverhampton Council are asking you to donate any unwanted Christmas gifts or ‘preloved’ clothes, handbags etc in a number of designated wheelie bins located at the Civic Centre, Mander Centre, Wulfrun Centre and University of Wolverhampton between Monday, January 13 and Wednesday, February 12. Look out for the bins in the ‘Alternative Giving CIO' brand.
Your donated items will then be put up for sale in a pop-up shop or market stall in February half-term week 2020 with 100 per cent of the money raised going directly to those Wolverhampton charities and agencies that provide long-term help and support to Wolverhampton’s homeless and vulnerable.
This is a great way of donating unwanted gifts or preloved items as a gesture of good will and provides support and funding to local charities and agencies, getting people off the streets and into accommodation rather than giving directly to someone rough sleeping on the city centre streets.
To date, via 19 cash donation points across the city centre and through business support, an impressive £19,000 has been raised which has gone directly to P3 Navigator, St Georges Hub and The Wolverhampton Street Pastors.
Cherry Shine, BID Director, said: “Most recently £4,000 of the donated funds has been granted to St Georges Hub and P3 Navigator to provide emergency accommodation, starter packs for people that have been housed, support for people with complex needs, all making sure our agencies can continue their comprehensive advice and support.
“During November 2018 we raised over £600 from donated pre-loved items and unwanted gifts and we hope to exceed this in 2020. Supporting the homeless and vulnerable individuals with the right support is fundamental to this initiative.
“Wolverhampton BID are so grateful for the communities continued support to Alternative Giving.”
Councillor Peter Bilson, City of Wolverhampton Council Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for City Assets and Housing, added: “The best way to help people positively change their lives is by homeless organisations and the public working together - and this pop-up shop is another example of that.
“The three small charities involved in the Alternative Giving Campaign do a tremendous job and I would urge everyone to donate any suitable unwanted items and help make a difference.
“All money given by kind-hearted Wolverhampton residents through the Alternative Giving Campaign is handed to these three charities to support the work they are doing to improve the current circumstances of the homeless and vulnerable by offering them accommodation, assistance and advice.”
For the location of the Alternative Giving wheelie bins where you can donate pre-loved items of unwanted Christmas gifts, plus the locations of our 19 city centre charity donation points, and all the information about the scheme visit www.wolverhamptonchange.co.uk.
