Emmaus Mossley has launched a campaign urging all donors and supporters to ‘Sift Before You Gift’ to reduce the substantial disposal costs of unusable donations.
Emmaus Mossley’s Secondhand Superstore supports our charity’s vital work, helping people to progress after homelessness. We rely on good-quality donations but are keen to reduce the costs of disposing of unusable items so that more funds can be used to support our companions.
Like many charities, we work tirelessly to keep items away from the waste chain. This includes repairing certain furniture items, upcycling materials and recycling items that cannot be sold. Despite our best efforts and due of external forces such as the global rag trade, our waste disposal bill is currently around £1,500 per month.
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 ongoing challenge we have is to educate everyone, highlighting the items we can and cannot accept but also explaining why certain donations cannot be accepted.”
“Gone are the days when charities could receive donations of anything and everything. The costs of disposing of unsalable and usable items are ever increasing and for small charities like ours, those funds are much better directed to the people we support, helping them on their journeys away from homelessness.”
Donate right to change lives
Emmaus Mossley supports people who have experienced homelessness by providing them with a home, companionship, tailored support and work opportunities. Our charity is home for up to 26 people at any given time, with each person supported to build their confidence, self-esteem, skills and work experience to achieve their goals.
Emmaus Mossley’s ‘Sift Before You Gift’ campaign will run throughout September. It will highlight the need to donate right and remind people not to donate unusable items, such as damaged crockery, broken or incomplete toys, and worn-out clothes. We are also requesting that people do not leave bags or boxes of donations or furniture outside of our Secondhand Superstore but instead drop off donations during opening hours only.