There's joy in jumble
Posted on 24/07/2012
It's a likely assumption that your loft is the dusty home to several items long since forgotten. Banished to a world of cobwebs and insulation, they sit in bin liners like plastic ghosts. But what if all those old clothes, toys etc could be put to good use? What if your junk could improve the lives of local people facing life limiting illnesses?
Douglas Macmillan Hospice in Stoke have been working with local people and companies on their "Bag it Bring it" scheme. One such company was Lister Trade Frames a long time supporter of Douglas Macmillan.
"I know from personal experience the hard work and effort these guys put in each and every day," said MD Mark Warren. "They depend on charity and contributions to continue their excellent work. We wanted to help in any way we could."
Listers rolled out the Bag it Bring it scheme to their staff and customer base. They also emailed over 4000 contacts from their database inviting them to get involved.
"We were delighted with the response we got, especially from our staff," commented marketing manager Daniel Shaw, "the offices started to look like a jumble sale as it was crammed with Douglas Macmillan bags."
"This awful weather has meant that our charity shops have suffered from lack of people willing to brave the elements to buy and donate," remarked Yvonne Colclough, Head of Retail for Douglas Macmillan. "That means that we are very low on stock and without the generosity of our supporters, we wouldn't be able to continue our work with our patients and their families. Having a company like Listers doing their utmost to help is a crucial part of our survival."
"We're keeping the left over bags in our showroom so that we can highlight the initiative to our customers," said Daniel Shaw. "The beauty of this scheme is that it can be never ending. Douglas Macmillan Hospice can always make use of unwanted goods."
So before you condemn your old possessions to the darkness, consider how they could be helping others less fortunate. Your jumble can bring joy to those that reallt need it. The Bag it Bring it scheme is still in full swing and you can donate your goods directly to Douglas Macmillan or any of their shops located throughout Staffordshire.
